PMT - wildfires and conditions that favours intense wildfires Flashcards
what is a wildfire?
A large, uncontrolled fire that quickly spreads through vegetation.
what type of vegetation favours intense wildfires?
thick close together lets them spread quick and easy
Vegetation with flammable oils - like eucalyptus (eucalyptus forests found in australia) - causes more intense fires also
grass land does burn as intensely
what characteristics of fuel favours more intense wildfires?
dry
thick vegetation causes the fire to burn for longer and more intensely
how does fine and thick vegetation differ as fuel in terms of the spread of a wildfire?
finer causes the fire to spread quicker
thicker causes the fire to burn for longer and more intensely
where do wildfires occur? example of where wildfires take place?
a climate that has enough rainfall
to have sufficient plant growth , but considerable dry spells and droughts to dry out the fuel .
Areas with dry seasons such as California allow for intense wildfires.
what causes fires to spread quicker?
wind
what climactic events can make wildfires grow more intense and extend wildfire seasons causing more damage?
santa ana winds and diablo winds in california
el nino and la nina
how much many more times are wildfires occurring in the USA since the 70s-80s? how much more land area are they burning?
5 times more
they are burning 6 times more land
