Wildfires Flashcards

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1
Q

3 types of wildfire

A

ground - ground burns eg peat and tree roots
slow and no flame, little smoke

surface - leaf litter and low lying vegetation burns
high or low intensity

crown - fires move rapidly through canopy
likely intense and fast moving

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2
Q

conditions that favour wildfires

A

vegetation type
- thick and dense
- some trees contain oil, more flammable

fuel - fine and dry material

recent weather
- rain to allow vegetation to grow for fuel
- needs dry season to become flammable
- winds provide oxygen and help it spread

fire behaviour - firerbrands spread it more
- burning debris thrown

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3
Q

natural causes

A

lightning
volcanic eruptions, lava

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4
Q

human causes

A

dropping of cigarettes
campfires
fireworks
arson, on purpose

80% human in USA

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5
Q

prevention

A

education on campfires and safety
campfire bans in dry weather

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6
Q

preparedness

A

evacuation plans

warning systems for early detection - satellite and infrared

create defensible space

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7
Q

adaptation

A

emergency plans and shelters
education and preparation

creating defensible space between houses, stop spread
non-flammable materials for houses

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8
Q

mitigation

A

monitoring and warnings - satalites with infrared
evacuation plans

insurance

backburning - small fires lit to reduce amount of fuel for larger ones

firebreaks - gaps in forest to reduce spreading

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9
Q

impacts of wildfires

A

social
- death
- homelessness

economic
- businesses destoryed
- insurance increases

env
- habitats destorced
- soils damaged
- smoke causing air pollution

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10
Q

how is climate change effecting wildfires?

A

Average wildfire season 78 days longer

Climate change - hotter and drier climate, spreads more easily
more area drier for longer, occur in more places
creating favourable conditions

but 80% human, not always factor
urbanisation also increasing risk

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11
Q

conditions needed for wildfires

A

supply of fuel eg vegetation
ignition source - human or natural
oxygen - winds also help spread

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12
Q

vegetation characteristics that favour wildfires

A

effects intensity and rate of spread
quantity depends where

thick vegetation, closely spaced = ideal
some trees contain oil - more flammable eg eucalyptus
fine dry material burns easily

wildfires travel faster uphill

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13
Q

climatic conditions that favour wildfires

A
  • rain to allow vegetation to grow for fuel
  • needs dry season to become flammable
  • winds provide oxygen and help it spread

cyclical climate events - El NiΓ±o can cause favorable conditions

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14
Q

how does El NiΓ±o effect wildfires?

A

westerly trade winds weaken
creates warmer weather in South America
moves rainfall away from SE Asia and Australia = drier
wildfires more likely

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15
Q

how does fire behaviour effect its spread?

A

firebrands - burning debris thrown
- allows it to spread easier

wildfires moves faster uphill, steeper slope = faster spread

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