Atmospheric Systems: Australia's Wildfires, 2014 Flashcards
1
Q
What happened? (5)
A
- 15th January, the heat caused several lightning strikes which sparked more than 250 fires in forested areas.
- 15 emergency warnings sent out.
- Each lightning bolt can carry one hundred million volts of electricity and can reach a temperature of over thirty thousand degrees celsius.
- Energy hit the dry vegetation causing it to instantly ignite.
- Fires were worsened by extreme heat, reaching 42 degrees in Adelaide.
2
Q
What were the SHORT TERM impacts? (4)
A
- Road closures.
- More than 30,000 residents spent a night without power.
- Rural train services suspended.
- Flights to and from Melbourne airport delayed die to bushfire nearby which prompted evacuation of the control tower.
3
Q
What were the LONG TERM impacts? (6)
A
- About 50 homes were destroyed
- Loss of plants and animals.
- 9,000 cattle and sheep lost.
- 166,000 hectares burnt.
- Residents who left their homes were told not to return.
- Damage to infrastructure, power lines.
4
Q
What were the responses? (6)
A
- Govt. put in place a ‘Recovery Assistance Package’ to address the social, economic and environmental impacts.
- Govt. contributed more than $465 million towards reconstruction and recovery.
- In 2009, a programme called ‘Rebuilding Together’ launched which provided $193 million for rebuilding and recovery. This funding goes towards projects to replace major community facilities - schools, health centres, doctors surgeries.
- In Victoria, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) provides fire fighting and other emergency services (including sending emergency SMS to the public) to country areas in the state.
- Programme called ‘Fire Safe Kids’ dedicated to educate pre-school and primary school children in fire safety via interactive lessons taught by volunteer or career fire fighters.
- Site called Vic Emergency set up detailing incident info and advice on what to do.
5
Q
When was it?
A
15th January 2014
6
Q
How many fires were there?
A
250
7
Q
How many emergency warnings were sent out?
A
15
8
Q
How many volts can a lightning bolt care?
A
One hundred million volts
9
Q
What were the temperature highs and where?
A
Adelaide, 42 degrees
10
Q
How may people were without power for a night?
A
30,000
11
Q
How many homes were destroyed?
A
50
12
Q
How many cattle and sheep were lost?
A
9,000
13
Q
How many hectares were burnt?
A
166,000
14
Q
What five different schemes were set up to help recovery and rebuilding?
A
- ‘Recovery Assistance Package’
- ‘Rebuilding Together’
- Country Fire Authority help
- ‘Fire Safe Kids’
- VicEmergency website
