🌋Case Study - Alberta 2016 Flashcards

1
Q

How did the climate encourage the start of the wildfire?

A

Dry conditions and strong winds with low humidity

El Nino caused high temperatures

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2
Q

How much rainfall was seen in Fort McMurray?

A

41.3mm between January and April, 60% of average

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3
Q

Why did below average precipitation lead to dry vegetation?

A

Less precipitation meant less snowpack and therefore dry vegetations

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4
Q

What was the highest temperature seen in Fort McMurray?

A

33 degrees C

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5
Q

How fast were winds?

A

22mph

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6
Q

How many people were evacuated?

A

80,000

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7
Q

How were people physically affected?

A

Visibility was low due to smoke and people developed breathing difficulties

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8
Q

How was the sense of community impacted?

A

People’s homes were destroyed, affecting communities

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9
Q

How many homes were destroyed in Fort McMurray?

A

1600

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10
Q

What percentage of all structures were destroyed?

A

15%

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11
Q

Why were jobs put at risk?

A

Operations on oil sands were shut down

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12
Q

How many were housed in the University of Calgary while the blaze was tackled?

A

2600

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13
Q

How were basic water supplies affected?

A

Firefighters had to use untreated water to tackle the blaze, so supplies were contaminated

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14
Q

How was the countries economy affected?

A

Major oil production was shut down, so exports slowed

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15
Q

How many major oil companies suspended operations?

A

9

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16
Q

How much was production of oil cut down by?

A

1 million barrels a day. 1/3 of Canada’s output

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17
Q

How many residents were out of work?

A

90,000

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18
Q

How much was lost in real GDP?

A

$985 million

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19
Q

Why was the fire likely to smoulder for months?

A

Because there is thick peat in the area, which can allow it to keep burning

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20
Q

How much CO2 was emitted?

A

Millions of tonnes, particularly from burning peat

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21
Q

How were rivers and lakes affected?

A

The ash polluted them

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22
Q

How far was smoke from the fires able to travel?

A

3400km to the US Gulf Coast

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23
Q

How long were people without electricity for?

A

More than 14 days

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24
Q

What did the fire fuel politically?

A

A debate on the possible impacts of climate change

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25
Q

What was used to evacuate oil sands workers?

A

Aircraft including helicopters

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26
Q

What did the Alberta government declare?

A

A state of emergency

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27
Q

Which countries responded with aid?

A

US, Russia and Australia with helicopters, water-bombers and firefighters

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28
Q

How much did the Canadian government provide to evacuees per adult?

A

$1250

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29
Q

How much did the Canadian government provide to evacuees per dependant?

A

$500

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30
Q

How much was collected by the Red Cross in aid?

A

$50 million

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31
Q

What was ‘Thunder the Great’?

A

A gerbil used to help children who had been psychologically affected by the fire

32
Q

What did Justin Trudeau promise to the area?

A

Long term aid to help the rebuilding of Fort McMurray

33
Q

Where did the fire start?

A

A remote forested area to the south-west of Fort McMurray

34
Q

When did the fire start?

A

1st May 2016

35
Q

When did the fire meet the community of Fort McMurray?

A

3rd May 2016

36
Q

Cause: Give 3 reasons why the ground was dry

A

Lack of winter snowfall
Early snowmelt
Warmer than average temperatures

37
Q

Cause: Give 2 reasons why vegetation was dry

A

April temperatures were high
Low humidity

38
Q

Cause: What was the exact cause of the fire?

A

It’s unknown- likely to be human induced

39
Q

Cause: Why did the fire become out of control?

A

Due to a shift in the wind direction- resulting in the blaze turning northwards towards Fort McMurray

40
Q

Cause: What caused fires to ignite in front of the main fire, even jumping a 1km river?

A

Spotting (wind carrying burning embers)

41
Q

P.E.: How many killed?

A

0

42
Q

P.E.: What percentage of homes in Fort McMurray were destroyed?

A

15%

43
Q

P.E.: What fraction of oil workers were evacuated?

A

1/3

44
Q

S.E.: What were homes left without?

A

Basic services- electricity and water

45
Q

S.E.: Why did mains water have to be boiled?

A

As untreated water was allowed into pipes so firefighters could put out the fires

46
Q

S.E.: Transport links were effected, including the nearby…

A

Airport

47
Q

P.E.: How many major oil companies suspended operations? Example company?

A

9, including Suncor

48
Q

P.E.: How many barrels of oil were lost per day?

A

1.2 million for 14 days

49
Q

S.E.: Give one reason for Canada’s poor economic outlook in 2016

A

Lost oil royalties

50
Q

S.E.: Why did world oil prices rise briefly? When did they stabilise?

A

. As the fire could of hit the heart of the oil patch
. Stabilised after the fire missed the heart of the oil patch

51
Q

S.E.: How much will rebuilding add to Alberta’s economy?

A

$1.3 billion

52
Q

S.E.: What were the debates about in government?

A

Possible impacts on climate change

53
Q

P.E.: Where did toxic smoke containing mercury come from?

A

Burning buildings and petrol stations

54
Q

S.E.: What’s the problem with all the toxic ash left?

A

No one knows how to dispose of it

55
Q

S.E.: Parts of the peat could reignite at any time until…

A

There’s heavy rainfall

56
Q

S.E.: What will take a long time to recover?

A

Ecosystems
Scorched tree roots and soil

57
Q

I.R.: Give 3 ways the fire was monitored

A

Using satellites
Meteorological data
Ground data

58
Q

I.R.: Give an example of a satellite that was used

A

Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership Satellite

59
Q

I.R.: Give 3 reasons why the fire was monitored

A

Forecast fires’ track
Issue warnings
Emergency services mobilised

60
Q

I.R.: Why was ash sampling conducted from the 12th May?

A

Determine if it was a risk to public health
See if it could be disposed of in land fill

61
Q

I.R.: How many ash samples were taken from across Fort McMurray?
What substances were they looking for?

A

136, looking for asbestos and petroleum hyrdocarbons

62
Q

I.R.: Give 3 examples of things the Canadian Red Cross did?

A

Set up 13 call centres
Registered evacuated people
Provided 2,800 hygiene kits across Fort McMurray

63
Q

I.R.: How many firefighters sent from Canada, USA and South Africa firefighters?

A

1,000

64
Q

I.R.: Why was the Alberta Wildfire Info Facebook page set up?

A

To share information about evacuation- speeding up the process
Help find temporary accommodation

65
Q

L.R.: What percentage of Canadian Red Cross donations were spent on future planning and preparation?

A

1.5%

66
Q

L.R.: How many jobs are expected to be created in construction?

A

9,000

67
Q

L.R.: What should help boost consumer spending?

A

Insurance claims being given out

68
Q

L.R.: How much did the Canadian Red Cross give to small businesses?

A

$6million

69
Q

L.R.: What did the Canadian Red Cross give to small businesses that was more important than money?

A

Professional help and advice

70
Q

L.R.: When did residents start to return to their homes?

A

Early June

71
Q

L.R.: When did Fire Aid take place?

A

29th June

72
Q

L.R.: How much did Fire Aid raise?

A

Over $2 million

73
Q

L.R.: Where did the money raised by Fire Aid go?

A

United Way of Fort McMurray’s Fire Recovery Funding Program

74
Q

L.R.: F.A.- What’s the Support Through Housing Team?

A

Life skills program preparing people for the future

75
Q

L.R.: F.A.- What’s the Salvation Army Community Centre?

A

Stores + distributes donated goods to those who need them most