case study - Alberta wildfire Flashcards
background information on wildfire
- may 2016
- Canada, particularly effects Fort McMurray
- started rural but wind shift caused it to go off predicted path and towards city
- created positive feedback mechanisms as created its own lightning
primary impacts of Alberta
Social
- 90,000 people evacuated, entire of Fort McMurray
- no deaths or injuries
- 2400 homes destroyed
Environmental
- 600,000 hectares land burnt
secondary impacts of Alberta
Social
- ash washed into water course, contaminated the water supples, for humans and wildlife
- power supplies disrupted
- people displaced
Economic
- $9b damage
- transport and jobs affected
- $1b loss in oil production
Environmental
- boreal forest ecosystem damaged
- ash washed into watercourse after heavy rail, contamination for wildlife
- 500 species lost habitat
short term responses
- 90,000 evacuated, population of Fort McMurray
- ground and satellite data used to monitor fire, allowed for warnings
- planes used to evacuate 25,000 workers
- aid given from Canadian armed forces
how did it create its own lightning?
smoke clouds rises
cools and condenses into clouds
thunderstorms can develop
causing rain and lightning
lightning is a natural cause of wildfires
long term responses
- $50m Canadian dollars in aid from Canadian Red Cross
- prime minister promised long term aid