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Climate Change would not have the same protection against tsunamis due to a shorter time period to adapt. Additionally, ice crust melt could lead to a rise of the earth’s crust, especially at higher latitudes, causing more submarine landslides and a greater vulnerability to tsunamis. 17.2.9 Wildfire Climate Change Impacts on the Hazard Climate change has the potential to affect multiple elements of the wildfire system: fire behavior, ignitions, fire management, and vegetation fuels. Hot dry spells create the highest fire risk. Increased temperatures may intensify wildfire danger by warming and drying out vegetation. Changes in climate patterns may impact the distribution and perseverance of insect outbreaks that create dead trees (increase fuel). When climate alters fuel loads and fuel moisture, forest susceptibility to wildfires changes. Climate change may also increase winds that spread fires. Faster fires are harder to contain, and thus are more likely to expand into residential neighborhoods. Exposure, Sensitivity and Vulnerability The following summarizes changes in exposure and vulnerability to the wildfire hazard resulting from climate change:  Population, Property and Critical facilities—Wildfire risk in San Mateo County is expected to more than double by the end of the century and increase nearly 100 percent at mid-century. As a result, it is likely that exposure and vulnerability to the wildfire hazard will increase as a result of climate change. The application and enforcement of codes and standards to mitigate the risks from wildfire hazards could help to decrease this risk as development moves into existing wildfire hazard areas.  Environment—It is possible that the exposure and vulnerability of the environment will be impacted by changes in wildfire risk due to climate change. Natural fire regimes may change, resulting in more or less frequent or higher intensity burns. These impacts may alter the composition of the ecosystems in areas in and surrounding planning area. If more acres are burned every year, wildlife may be more stressed as the suitable habitat is lost. 17.3 ISSUES The major gaps in current knowledge and understanding about how climate change will impact San Mateo County’s hazards are the following:  Planning for climate change related impacts can be difficult due to inherent uncertainties in projection methodologies.  Average temperatures are expected to continue to increase in the planning area, which may lead to a host of primary and secondary impacts, such as an increased incidence of heat waves.  Expected changes in precipitation patterns are still poorly understood and could have significant impacts on the water supply and flooding in the planning area.  Some impacts of climate change are poorly understood, such as potential impacts on the frequency and severity of earthquakes, thunderstorms, and tsunamis. 17-17