P1 Section C (Hazards) Flashcards
What is a wildfire
A wildfire is a large uncontrolled fire that quickly spreads through vegetation
What conditions favour intense wildfires
Dry, densely packed vegetation, enough rainfall to grow vegetation but dry spells and droughts and also wind and natural fuels like eucalyptus
How does El Niño and La Niña create wildfires in Australia
El Niño and La Niña creates wildfires as La Niña brings wet seasons to cause vegetation growth and then El Niño provides dry seasons where the vegetation can provide fuel
What were black Saturday bushfires
black Saturday bushfires were a series of wildfires in Australia 2009 which killed 173 and burned over 450,000 hectares
Primary impacts of black Saturday bushfires
Primary impacts of black Saturday bushfires are killed 173 people, burned over 450,000 hectares, destroyed 3,500 structures, killed 11,800 livestock and cut power supplies to 60,000 people
What caused black Saturday bushfires
black Saturday bushfires caused by temperature above 40 C, low humidity and winds over 80mph all in the week leading to the fires, which was ignited by lightening and human activity
Types of wildfire
Types of wildlife are crown fires, surface fires and ground fires
What are crown fires
Crown fires are the most destructive fires and burn entire trees from top to bottom
What are surface fires
Surface fires are when only leaf litter is burnt so they’re easily extinguished
What are ground fires
Ground fires are when dry peat or vegetation beneath the surface are burnt and they are difficult to put out and can continue to burn throughout the year if weather conditions allow
Responses to black Saturday bushfires 2009
Responses to black Saturday bushfires 2009 were fire danger index measuring the risk of the bushfire on a scale - which is shown before and during the fire and also there is designated emergency radio station which communicates danger
Natural causes of wildfires
Natural causes of wildfires are air pressure, wind, temperatures and lightening strikes
Anthropogenic causes of wildfires
Anthropogenic causes of wildfires are land use (if irrigated less likelihood of fire), arson and recreational activity
Positive feedback loop of wildfires in water cycle
Positive feedback loop of wildfires in water cycle is reducing vegetation, meaning less transpiration so less humidity so drier and more likely to catch fire
Positive feedback loop of wildfires in carbon cycle
Positive feedback loop of wildfires in carbon cycle is releasing carbon stored in vegetation, increasing CO2 in atmosphere so enhancing greenhouse effect and making earth warmer so more likelihood of wildfires
How is preparedness used to manage wildfires
preparedness is used to manage wildfires by techniques like USAs national weather service issuing warnings to fire departments, firebreaks set up and evacuation zones in place
How is mitigation used to manage wildfires
mitigation is used to manage wildfires by techniques like NASA developing drone technology to survey vast areas like Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and disaster aid and fire insurance like the A$12 million raised for 1983 Australian Ash Wednesday fires and building homes with materials that don’t produce harmful substances when burnt
How is adaption used to manage wildfires
Adaption is used to manage wildfires by techniques like letting wildfires take their course and restricting access to areas that are at risk, for example space out trees so crowns at least 20 feet apart
Location of Alberta wildfire 2016
Location of Alberta wildfire 2016 was Canada’s Alberta province particularly the city of Fort McMurray
What caused Alberta wildfire 2016
Alberta wildfire 2016 had unknown cause, but a shift in wind direction resulted in the fire moving into the outskirts of Fort McMurray
Impacts of Alberta wildfire 2016
Impacts of Alberta wildfire 2016 were 90,000 people fled the city, 2,400 homes and buildings burnt down, costed the nearby oil industry 1 billion Canadian dollars and the fire fuelled political debates about impacts of climate change
Responses to Alberta wildfire 2016
Responses to Alberta wildfire 2016 were Canadian Red Cross receiving $50 million Canadian, recreational centres were set up to house evacuees and mitigate trauma and USA Russia and Australia all offered help
What were the conditions which led to Alberta’s wildfire 2016
conditions which led to Alberta’s wildfire 2016 was a lack of winter snowfall, warmer temperatures which dried the ground and a change in wind direction to an unpredictable location
How is Philippines multi-hazardous
Philippines is multi-hazardous as it is located on a destructive plate boundary with 22 volcanoes, frequent EQs, prone to tsunamis, average 20 typhoons per year and steep topography and high rainfall leading to landslides
How is the Philippines population vulnerable to hazards
the Philippines population is vulnerable to hazards as 30% live within 30km of a volcano. many of the poor live in coastal areas, 25% of the population are in poverty and there is rapid urbanisation
how did 2006 hazards affect Philippines
2006 hazards affected Philippines as an EQ killed 15 people and it led to landslides and tsunamis with 3m waves that flooded the area
how did 2013 hazards affect Philippines
2013 hazards affected Philippines as an EQ killed 223 people, typhoon Haiyan killed over 7000 people and tropical floods killed 6 people - all within 3 months
problem with response to Australian Black Saturday 2009 bushfire
problem with response to Australian Black Saturday 2009 bushfire was that fire advisers sent from USA and France in response often gave out inaccurate information to public since they were reliant on emergency radio station (who were reliant on public phone calls) to direct people and so safety information system collapsed with over 80% of phone calls seeking crucial information going unanswered
