Australia wildfire facts

Question 1

what 4 things does the hazard management cycle take into account.

Answer 1

preparedness, réponse, recovery and mitigation

Question 2

what is the hazard management cycle

Answer 2

a model that can help an area better protect against a natural hazard

Question 3

Name an area particularly at risk from fire

Answer 3

New South Wales

Question 4

Social impacts of the Australian Wildfire

Answer 4

1. 2000 houses were burned down causing relocation
   damaging sense off community and mental health- topophilia
2. 33 people died
3. air pollution has leas to a 10% increase in hospital admissions for respiratory diseases

Question 5

Environmental impacts of the Australian Wildfires

Answer 5

13 million hectares of vegetation was burned down

Question 6

economic impact of the Australian wildfires

Answer 6

1. disruption to the mining sector
2. less tourism
3. 1 billion dollars worth of damage to the timber industry

Question 7

how can natural fires starts

Answer 7

1. ignited by heat from the sun or a lightning strike.

2. human carelessness such as arson, campfires, discarding lit cigarettes

Question 8

what is a wildfire

Answer 8

an uncontrolled fire which burns in wild-land vegetation

Question 9

to what extent does human activity cause wildfires

Answer 9

data suggests that 85% of wildfires start from human causes

Question 10

what’s required for a wildfire to start

Answer 10

1. fuels (vegetation)
2. oxygen
3. energy source (lightning)

Question 11

how has human activity exacerbated the frequency of wildfires

Answer 11

1. increased urbanisation
2. causing more deforestation
3. local climates in the forest are becoming drier
4. making fires more damaging and frequent

Question 12

factors increasing the intensity of a wildfire

Answer 12

1. steep topography
2. low humidity
3. high density of vegetation
4. dry vegetation (eg fallen branches)
5. high winds

Question 13

why do steep slopes increase the intensity of the fire

Answer 13

as hot air rises and dries the ground ahead

Question 14

what has been done in Australia to mitigating the risk of wildfires

Answer 14

1. new law stating all rural properties must has a 25M fire break (saving millions of homes)
2. investment into fires satellites to better predict and warn residents
3. prescribed burning to lower the amount of dry fuel in the forest

Question 15

why is the disruption to the mining sector in Australia particularly damaging

Answer 15

as it contributes to 8.5% of Australias GDP

Question 16

population increase in Australia

Answer 16

1.6% increase annually