Factors Favourinf Wildfires

Question 1

Vegetation type.

Answer 1

Sufficient quantity of DRY vegetation 🌷
Grasses wilt during drought periods - susceptible.
Fire aids seed germination.

Question 2

What veg withstands Fire?

Answer 2

Pyrophytic species

Resistant bark

Question 3

What does the vegetation act as?

Answer 3

Fuel.

Question 4

Name fuel characteristics

Answer 4

Vegetation
Dry
Sufficient quantity
Dense

(Climate impacts this)

Question 5

Climate

Answer 5

It affects frequency and duration of drought - veg dries out.

Affects type of vegetation that will grow.

Rate it will grow.

Rain also needs for plant growth but this will inhibit fires

Question 6

What does climate act as?

Answer 6

Ignition source.

Worse due to global warming

Question 7

Favourable weather conditions

Answer 7

Storms generate lightening/ lack of rainfall - ignition.

Heatwaves / El Niño / droughts

Friends with strong winds

Question 8

Name 2 types of lightening

Answer 8

Cold 🥶 = intense electrical current with short duration.

Hot 🥵 = lower voltage , longer duration

Question 9

Name 3 things fire needs to thrive ?

Answer 9

1. Fuel
2. Oxygen
3. Heat

Question 10

Fire behaviour

Answer 10

Crowing.
Spotting.
Depends upon vegetation, space between fuels, wind, topography, season , temp

Question 11

Vegetation

Answer 11

Dry - spread easily.
Fuel.
Sufficient load

Question 12

Space

Answer 12

Closer fuels - more spread.

Fire breaks spreads fuels out meaning less likely to spread as quick.

However , spotting can occur.

Question 13

Wind

Answer 13

Higher speeds more spread ( not too high or will put fire out)

Change in wind direction causes further spread

Question 14

Topography

Answer 14

Travel faster uphill.

Question 15

Seasons

Answer 15

Summer - hotter / dryer

Question 16

Temp

Answer 16

Higher temps absorbs moisture from fuels and makes it more dry - more conductive to catch fire

Question 17

Outline how fires can be started (3 marks)

Answer 17

1. Ignition source needs to be established.
   Lightening is the most common way natural fires are caused - linked with storms.
   However, humans can ignite fires through recreational use / arson.
2. The ignition source will need to ignore a fuel.
   This is dry / dense vegetation which will easily become sparked by ignition.
3. Combustion reaction occurs and fire is produced as long as fuel is present fire can thrive / spread.
4. canadas Alberta province receives many fires due to dry warm land and lightening

Question 18

How do human responses reduce impact of fire ?

Answer 18

Careful monitoring means able to distinguish quickly weather a fire is happening. The issue warning can alert and evacuation.
Evacuation reduces death tolls/ injury.
Fire fighters / water bombs mitigate but stopping spread.
NGOs provide aid after , to help adapt to situation.
Money given from governments / overseas.
Shelter.