5.10 - Fires in nature Flashcards
What climate do firestorms form?
Mediterranean style climate
Name the 4 types of wildfires
Surface
Ground
Crown
Urban
Describe surface fires
Most common and burn along forest floor
900oc
Easy to control
Describe ground fires
Burn organic matter in soil (peat)
Spread slowly for a long time
540oc
Describe crown fires
Burn through canopy and spreads up trunk
1100oc
Intense and hard to contain
Describe urban firestorms
Happens in urban area
Fire used in the war
What increases the spread of a fire (5)
Wind speed Wind direction Humidity Topography Organic fuel availability
How does wind speed impact rate at which a fire spread?
↑ wind speed = ↑ oxygen available and less moisture
Blow upwards = crown fire so dangerous
How does wind direction impact rate at which a fire spread?
Push flame towards fuel
How does humidity rate at which a fire spread?
Decrease water levels
How does topography impact rate at which a fire spread?
Heat rises so spreads quicker uphill
How does organic fuel availability impact rate at which a fire spread?
Feeds the fire
Case studies used for wildfires
2015 California, USA (HIC)
2015 South East Asian Haze (LIC)
Primary impacts California wildfires (5)
Environmental
11 million acres burnt
Social
2,500 people evacuated
9 dead (2 firemen and 7 civilians)
1400 homes destroyed
Economic
$100 million damage
Secondary impacts California wildfires
People relocated
High levels of pollution
Habitats destroyed
Immediate responses California wildfires
3700+ firefighters
340+ fire engines and 19 helicopters
3 millions of water used
Long term responses California wildfires
Build houses
SE Asian Haze facts
Caused by slash and burn
Pollution of 401
Mainly Indonesia
Primary impacts SE Asian Haze wildfires (2)
Primary impacts SE Asian Haze wildfires (2)
Secondary impacts SE Asian Haze wildfires (2)
500,000 respiratory infections
100,000+ premature deaths
$47b in damage
28 million people effected
Immediate responses SE Asian Haze wildfires
3700 soldiers and 8000 police
School closures
Cloud seeding
Smart masks for elderly (29,000)
Long term responses SE Asian Haze wildfires
Restore degraded wetland
Care packages
Education on prevention
3 positive impacts of wildfires
Remove dead material
Increase sunlight and release nutrients
Pyrophitic plants need fire to reproduce
5 negative impacts of wildfires
Natural ecosystem cycles disrupted Extinction Ash destroys soil structures Reduce rainfall interception Global warming
