HAZARDS - wildfires

Question 1

wildfires

Answer 1

unplanned, unwanted wild land fires including unauthorised human induced fires

Question 2

controlled fires

Answer 2

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

Question 3

distribution

Answer 3

Australia, Africa, South and North America.

Question 4

wildfires in Australia

Answer 4

grassland, flat, dry and warm = all yr round

Question 5

wildfires in Africa

Answer 5

dry grassland = FIRE CONTINENT

Question 6

wildfires in South America

Answer 6

slash and burn, pastoral

Question 7

wildfires in North America

Answer 7

forest and agriculture - prescribed (controlled fires)

Question 8

three factors needed to start a fire

Answer 8

oxygen, fuel and heat

Question 9

surface fires

Answer 9

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

Question 10

ground fires

Answer 10

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

long periods

Question 11

crown fires

Answer 11

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

Question 12

vegetation type that favours intense widfires

Answer 12

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

Question 13

fuel characteristics

Answer 13

dry, fine material

large amounts forming continuous cover

Question 14

climate and recent weather

Answer 14

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

Question 15

fire behaviour

Answer 15

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

Question 16

wildfire season in the US

Answer 16

summer = drier fuel

Question 17

wildfire season in Africa

Answer 17

dry dusty north eastern trade winds Harmatten winds

November to March

Question 18

human causes of wildfires

Answer 18

campfires, smoking, arson, glass

Question 19

what % of wildfires are due to arsen?

Answer 19

30%

Question 20

Natural causes of wildfires

Answer 20

lightning, volcanoes

Question 21

land topography

Answer 21

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

Question 22

what % humidity increases the risk of a wildfire

Answer 22

below 7%

Question 23

% of fires caused by lightning

Answer 23

10%

Question 24

santa ana winds

Answer 24

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

Question 25

weather phenomenon that improve the conditions for a wildfire

Answer 25

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

Question 26

el nino

Answer 26

warming phase of sea surface temp ENSO | el nino southern oscillation

Question 27

la nina

Answer 27

cooling phase of sea surface temp

Question 28

positive impacts

Answer 28

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

Question 29

adaptions of trees to wildfires

Answer 29

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

Question 30

baobab tree

Answer 30

thick fibrous bark lives with burns

Question 31

banksia tree

Answer 31

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

Question 32

negative local impacts

Answer 32

life, property, transport, power, businesses

Question 33

negative impacts on the watershed

Answer 33

habitat, weather, soil erosion, crops, co2 release

Question 34

negative regional impacts

Answer 34

health, tourism, air quality

Question 35

negative national impacts

Answer 35

transport, cost of mitigation, development

Question 36

Negative global impacts

Answer 36

air travel, crops, | eg) jasmine revolution due to increased crop prices and fuel prices. North Africa - tunisia

Question 37

mitigation strategies

Answer 37

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

Question 38

adaptions

Answer 38

defensible space education and awareness early fire detection

Question 39

how to protect homes

Answer 39

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

Question 40

fire detection tech

Answer 40

satellites, infrared sensors, cameras and drones

Question 41

prevention

Answer 41

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

Question 42

preparedness

Answer 42

``` 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 ```