Forest ecologist sees climate consequences

Many people worry about the link between rising bark-beetle infestations and an increase in western wildfires. But Dr. Susan Prichard, a Research Scientist at the University of Washington, adds another concern: what happens after the fires go out?

Prichard's story is the latest in a series of video shorts featured on TIME.com and produced by Princeton, NJ-based nonprofit Climate Central, an authoritative, non-advocacy source for science-based information about climate change. The series introduces viewers to people from all walks of life who are studying or dealing with the impact of climate change today.

Climate Central's Correspondent and Senior Research Scientist, Dr. Heidi Cullen, interviewed Prichard. Cullen says Prichard helps bring clarity to a climate change story that is not generally well understood. "Dr. Prichard can help all of us see the long-term risks that come from global warming. She's looking at the next generation of seedlings that sprout up after these mega-fires. And her big worry is that they may not be able to survive in a warmer, drier climate."

TIME.com will host the video of Prichard's story under an arrangement with Climate Central: "Climate Central is partnering with TIME.com on a series of videos focused on characters who are seeing the impacts of climate change, first hand," says Climate Central's Executive Producer, Charlie Lyons.

Prichard is one such such person and we are grateful to her for sharing some TIME and expertise with us. It is scientists like her who can help us understand impacts of climate change."

Click on this link www.time.com to view Climate Central's video on Time.com

New videos appear monthly on TIME.com. Other videos in the series include: a Georgia riverkeeper concerned about the fate of salt marshes along the Georgia coast; and a Montana trout fishing guide worried about the possible climate change threat to that state's trout fishing industry.