1fs. WildfiresIn the summer and fall of 2002, the landscape of the
western United States was particularly dry due to an extended drought.
That situation, coupled with the accumulation of potential fuel that had
built up over the years since previous fires, set the potential for
devastating wildfires. Many ecologists believe that fire suppression,
though it may save homes and large areas of woodland in the short run,
creates the conditions for uncontrollable fires. According to this
argument, allowing fires to burn simply allows the ecosystem to maintain
its normal conditions and precludes the buildup of highly volatile
material that ultimately sets off massive conflagrations.In 2002 the
worst fears were indeed realized. By the first day of summer, hundreds
of thousands of acres of land had already burned across the West.
Unusually high temperatures and strong winds set the stage for the first
of the most destructive fires in June in western Colorado. A couple of
weeks later, two major fires in Arizona joined together to form a
massive wall of flames. And before summer was over, enormous, long-lived
fires had also broken out over Oregon. All three fires were the worst
ever in the history of the respective states.Part of what makes massive
fires such as these so devastating is that they create their own weather
in a way that fosters more rapid spreading Intense flames create strong
thermal updrafts that lower the surface air pressure. This sets up
strong pressure gradients, and the resulting strong winds help transport
burning embers over great distances. It is little wonder that such
fires are so difficult to contain and are often able to jump fire
lines.In one regard, fires sometimes set up weather conditions that
actually assist fire crews. The same convection that can set up strong
pressure gradients can also trigger rain showers that help extinguish
the flames.The 2014 drought in the western United States once again set
up perfect conditions for wildfires. The fire season started early in
California with seven wildfires in January 2014. Santa Ana conditions
and a heat wave in May intensified multiple fires in San Diego county
that burned simultaneously. By the middle of the month there had been
more than 1400 fires in the state, double the normal number for the
date. Many scientists predict the West will become drier in the coming
decades because of global warming. If that prediction proves true, the
implications for wildfires is sobering to say the least.What combination
of conditions promotes the occurrence of wildfires in the West? Get solution
2fs. WildfiresIn the summer and fall of 2002, the landscape of the western United States was particularly dry due to an extended drought. That situation, coupled with the accumulation of potential fuel that had built up over the years since previous fires, set the potential for devastating wildfires. Many ecologists believe that fire suppression, though it may save homes and large areas of woodland in the short run, creates the conditions for uncontrollable fires. According to this argument, allowing fires to burn simply allows the ecosystem to maintain its normal conditions and precludes the buildup of highly volatile material that ultimately sets off massive conflagrations.In 2002 the worst fears were indeed realized. By the first day of summer, hundreds of thousands of acres of land had already burned across the West. Unusually high temperatures and strong winds set the stage for the first of the most destructive fires in June in western Colorado. A couple of weeks later, two major fires in Arizona joined together to form a massive wall of flames. And before summer was over, enormous, long-lived fires had also broken out over Oregon. All three fires were the worst ever in the history of the respective states.Part of what makes massive fires such as these so devastating is that they create their own weather in a way that fosters more rapid spreading Intense flames create strong thermal updrafts that lower the surface air pressure. This sets up strong pressure gradients, and the resulting strong winds help transport burning embers over great distances. It is little wonder that such fires are so difficult to contain and are often able to jump fire lines.In one regard, fires sometimes set up weather conditions that actually assist fire crews. The same convection that can set up strong pressure gradients can also trigger rain showers that help extinguish the flames.The 2014 drought in the western United States once again set up perfect conditions for wildfires. The fire season started early in California with seven wildfires in January 2014. Santa Ana conditions and a heat wave in May intensified multiple fires in San Diego county that burned simultaneously. By the middle of the month there had been more than 1400 fires in the state, double the normal number for the date. Many scientists predict the West will become drier in the coming decades because of global warming. If that prediction proves true, the implications for wildfires is sobering to say the least.How do wildfires create their own weather that can both spread the fires and limit them? Get solution
2fs. WildfiresIn the summer and fall of 2002, the landscape of the western United States was particularly dry due to an extended drought. That situation, coupled with the accumulation of potential fuel that had built up over the years since previous fires, set the potential for devastating wildfires. Many ecologists believe that fire suppression, though it may save homes and large areas of woodland in the short run, creates the conditions for uncontrollable fires. According to this argument, allowing fires to burn simply allows the ecosystem to maintain its normal conditions and precludes the buildup of highly volatile material that ultimately sets off massive conflagrations.In 2002 the worst fears were indeed realized. By the first day of summer, hundreds of thousands of acres of land had already burned across the West. Unusually high temperatures and strong winds set the stage for the first of the most destructive fires in June in western Colorado. A couple of weeks later, two major fires in Arizona joined together to form a massive wall of flames. And before summer was over, enormous, long-lived fires had also broken out over Oregon. All three fires were the worst ever in the history of the respective states.Part of what makes massive fires such as these so devastating is that they create their own weather in a way that fosters more rapid spreading Intense flames create strong thermal updrafts that lower the surface air pressure. This sets up strong pressure gradients, and the resulting strong winds help transport burning embers over great distances. It is little wonder that such fires are so difficult to contain and are often able to jump fire lines.In one regard, fires sometimes set up weather conditions that actually assist fire crews. The same convection that can set up strong pressure gradients can also trigger rain showers that help extinguish the flames.The 2014 drought in the western United States once again set up perfect conditions for wildfires. The fire season started early in California with seven wildfires in January 2014. Santa Ana conditions and a heat wave in May intensified multiple fires in San Diego county that burned simultaneously. By the middle of the month there had been more than 1400 fires in the state, double the normal number for the date. Many scientists predict the West will become drier in the coming decades because of global warming. If that prediction proves true, the implications for wildfires is sobering to say the least.How do wildfires create their own weather that can both spread the fires and limit them? Get solution