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GEOGRAPHY physical > HAZARDS - wildfires > Flashcards

HAZARDS - wildfires Flashcards

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1
Q

wildfires

A

unplanned, unwanted wild land fires including unauthorised human induced fires

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2
Q

controlled fires

A

fires started by humans which are beneficial. eg) cooking, agriculture, remove fuel in a safe way to prevent wildfires.

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3
Q

distribution

A

Australia, Africa, South and North America.

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4
Q

wildfires in Australia

A

grassland, flat, dry and warm = all yr round

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5
Q

wildfires in Africa

A

dry grassland = FIRE CONTINENT

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6
Q

wildfires in South America

A

slash and burn, pastoral

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7
Q

wildfires in North America

A

forest and agriculture - prescribed (controlled fires)

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8
Q

three factors needed to start a fire

A

oxygen, fuel and heat

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9
Q

surface fires

A

most common - burns the leaf litter 900*c cools quickly and easiest to control

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10
Q

ground fires

A

organic matter in soil = slow smouldering fire at 540*c

long periods

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11
Q

crown fires

A

burns the top foliage layer - canopy.
Loose bark = fire travels up trunk
excess temp of 1100*C
most intense and difficult to contain

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12
Q

vegetation type that favours intense widfires

A

close together
trees that contain lots of oil (eucalyptus and pine)
loose bark/ foliage

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13
Q

fuel characteristics

A

dry, fine material

large amounts forming continuous cover

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14
Q

climate and recent weather

A

sufficient rainfall to allow for plenty of vegetation cover
dry season to allow vegetation to dry
strong winds = more O2 to help the fire burn and spread
low humidity

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15
Q

fire behaviour

A

creeping - slowly across the ground
running- spreads rapidly and more intensely
firebrands/ spot fires - flying debris spreading the fire

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16
Q

wildfire season in the US

A

summer = drier fuel

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17
Q

wildfire season in Africa

A

dry dusty north eastern trade winds Harmatten winds

November to March

18
Q

human causes of wildfires

A

campfires, smoking, arson, glass

19
Q

what % of wildfires are due to arsen?

A

30%

20
Q

Natural causes of wildfires

A

lightning, volcanoes

21
Q

land topography

A

steeper slopes = faster travel of fire due to wind being pushed upwards
also heat and smoke rise = reaches more fuel

22
Q

what % humidity increases the risk of a wildfire

A

below 7%

23
Q

% of fires caused by lightning

A

10%

24
Q

santa ana winds

A

desert winds from the mountains. compressed and warmed so they have very low moisture. blow over Australia creating perfect conditions for fires

25
Q

weather phenomenon that improve the conditions for a wildfire

A

el niño and la niña (every 3-7 yrs) and climate change

26
Q

el nino

A

warming phase of sea surface temp ENSO

el nino southern oscillation

27
Q

la nina

A

cooling phase of sea surface temp

28
Q

positive impacts

A 
insect pest control
removes non -native species 
ash = nutrients
encourages growth = + sunlight for emergent layers
some fire dependent species
29
Q

adaptions of trees to wildfires

A

thick bark, high moisture content, underground storage (+++roots)

30
Q

baobab tree

A

thick fibrous bark lives with burns

31
Q

banksia tree

A

50% survive wildfires
thick bark
lignotubers (swollen base) re-sprouts
fire triggers seed release.

32
Q

negative local impacts

A

life, property, transport, power, businesses

33
Q

negative impacts on the watershed

A

habitat, weather, soil erosion, crops, co2 release

34
Q

negative regional impacts

A

health, tourism, air quality

35
Q

negative national impacts

A

transport, cost of mitigation, development

36
Q

Negative global impacts

A

air travel, crops,

eg) jasmine revolution due to increased crop prices and fuel prices. North Africa - tunisia

37
Q

mitigation strategies

A

fire, police and medical services
fire breaks - clear areas of fuel
beating the flames - removes co2
spraying with water and chemicals

38
Q

adaptions

A

defensible space
education and awareness
early fire detection

39
Q

how to protect homes

A 
incombustible barriers (concrete)
remove fuel
fire resistant roofing 
roll down metal fire doors and windows
sprinklers in gardens
40
Q

fire detection tech

A

satellites, infrared sensors, cameras and drones

41
Q

prevention

A

slash and burn - removes fuel
forecast = effective decision making time
volunteer debris clearing
smoke jumpers and vehicles with water and chemicals

42
Q

preparedness

A 
fire bans
clear property of ignitable materials
ladder to roof
fill water containers
irrigate land often
fire retardants close by
home insurance
website with information and protocol

GEOGRAPHY physical (20 decks)

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