Month: January 2020

Black Saturday Bushfires, Australia

Black Saturday Bushfires, Australia

Black Saturday Bushfires, Australia

01/13/20

“What bushfires changed Australia’s fire-resistance paradigm forever?”

 

On 7 February 2009, an event transpires that would leave shock Australia to its foundation. Early that morning, the state of Victoria had been experiencing extremely high winds in excess of 100 km/h (62 mph), bringing a torrent of dry air from Central Australia. Concurrently, a near record-breaking heatwave had engulfed the state, making conditions perfectly ripe for a disaster. These winds brought down powerlines around the Kinglake/Whittlesea area, birthing a fire. This fire steadily but surely increased in size, and the ember from them spread during the night-time winds, creating more fires. The next day, many of these fires began to merge, uplifting them to a whole new level of carnage. In the ensuing weeks 173 people lost their lives 414 were injured and 7,562 displaced, 450,000 ha (1,100,000 acres) of land burnt, and over a million animals were lost. These events would go on to be named the Black Saturday Bushfires and were the most deadly recorded in Australia up to then. It soon resulted in a range of new policy guidelines and codes to be implemented.

Image credit http://www.abc.net.au

How New South Wales Is Air-Dropping Food to Save Its Wildlife

How New South Wales Is Air-Dropping Food to Save Its Wildlife

How New South Wales Is Air-Dropping Food to Save Its Wildlife

01/12/20

“How is New South Wales dropping food from helicopters to save its unique wildlife?”

 

Australia is going through a wildfire crisis right now. And some of the most affected are its unique wildlife.  Over 1 billion animals have died since the onset of the fires. Given that many of these species are endangered and serve as a critical component of Australia’s tourism industry, this is truly a National Treasure being lost. But luckily for everyone, New South Wales’ government is taking a bit of proactive action in this.  They have recently started air-dropping upwards of 4,000 lbs of food such as carrots and sweet potatoes to keep these animals alive. Not only is this a terrific example of human-influenced ecological resilience, but this is also How New South Wales Is Air-Dropping Food to Save Its Wildlife.

Image credit https://abcnews.go.com/US/australian-government-drops-4000-pounds-food-save-starving/story?id=68232639

Managed Retreat From Australia’s Bushfires

Managed Retreat From Australia’s Bushfires

Managed Retreat From Australia’s Bushfires

01/11/20

“Why will some communities have to find new homes because of the Australian bushfire?”

 

Australia’s bushfires have grown to catastrophic levels never seen before. Making matters worse, this might just be the new normal in the coming years. If things continue this way, then some communities may have to think about uprooting themselves and making a managed retreat into safer land. This Managed Retreat From Australia’s Bushfires will reshape the society of the county and will be a look into the possible future of other fire-prone areas such as California.

How the Bushfires Might Pivot Australia’s Position on Climate

How the Bushfires Might Pivot Australia’s Position on Climate

How the Bushfires Might Pivot Australia’s Position on Climate

01/10/20

“Why might Australia’s climate policies undergo a drastic revolution due to the bushfires?”

 

Australia is going through a crisis right now. Their bushfires are raging like no other climate event and are bringing the nation to its knees. Australia was once a hotbed of climate denial and obstructed a large amount of climate progress due to its economy’s reliance on coal exports. However, with these climate-exacerbated bushfires, Its citizens and officials might now take heed and galvanize a new climate movement. This is How the Bushfires Might Pivot Australia’s Position on Climate.

Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds

Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds

Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds

01/09/20

“What are the clouds that form from wildfires?”

 

Wildfires can are immense damage to communities, with the power to bring entire nations to their knees! Not only this, but they can develop their own weather. Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds can form after disasters, causing lightning strikes and dense skies which can make air-based firefighting even harder. 

Image credit dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com

How Bushfires Can Develop Their Own Weather

How Bushfires Can Develop Their Own Weather

How Bushfires Can Develop Their Own Weather

01/08/20

“How is it that Australia’s bushfires can seemingly make their own weather conditions?”

 

Australia is going through unparalleled carnage from bushfires right now. But one of their most devastating effects is from a source that is entirely unexpected. The bush fires Heat up the air around them, causing it to rise. This brings the heated air in contact with cooler air by means of turbulence, making it cooler and spread. run this air becomes high and cool enough low atmospheric pressure makes clouds form. These clouds can mix with the polluted atmosphere to become unstable and eventually form lightning. If this lightning strikes the ground then more fires can occur, creating a positive feedback loop. This is How Bushfires Can Develop Their Own Weather.

Image credit mages.theconversation.com

Why Are Australia’s Current Bushfires so Intense?

Why Are Australia’s Current Bushfires so Intense?

Why Are Australia’s Current Bushfires so Intense?

01/07/20

“Why is Australia going through such an intense Bushfire season right now?”

 

In the beginning in 2020 one country is all over the news when it comes to climate change, Australia. As of writing, the ongoing Australian bushfire (the Ozzy way of saying wildfire) has already ravaged more than 12.35 million acres of land (larger than the entirety of the Netherlands) and taken the lives of over two dozen humans and half a billion animals! But what exactly is the cause behind such carnage? Well, like California, Much of Australia has a dry and hot climate, creating ample conditions for fires to break out.  With the advent of climate change, Australia has seen its average temperatures grow and droughts and heatwaves become more frequent. This has culminated in a bushfire season starting earlier with greater strength, which is Why Australia’s Current Bushfires are so Intense.

 

Image credit images.theconversation.com

How Climate Resilience Funding Can Be Enhanced Through Policy

How Climate Resilience Funding Can Be Enhanced Through Policy

How Climate Resilience Funding Can Be Enhanced Through Policy

01/06/20

“How can climate resilience funding be made stronger with the proper policy?”

 

Funding is a vital part of establishing climate resilience. However, if there are not that many proper mechanisms for it, then it can all fall apart.  To prevent this, proper policy-making can codify how funding is raised for climate resilience projects and for whom it goes to. An example of this is California’s SB 30 bill by Ricardo Lara,  which requires the Insurance Commissioner to convene a working group to assess new and innovative investments in natural infrastructure and insurance products in light of California’s worsening fire vulnerability due to climate change. How Climate Resilience Funding Can Be Enhanced Through Policy.

How Single-Family Zoning Is Driving Wildfire Vulnerabilities in Northern California

How Single-Family Zoning Is Driving Wildfire Vulnerabilities in Northern California

How Single-Family Zoning Is Driving Wildfire Vulnerabilities in Northern California

01/05/20

“Why is extremely single-family zoning in Northern California a resilience threat?”

 

When the city of San Francisco becomes a topic of conversation, images of the Golden Gate Bridge, sourdough bread, and brightly-colored Victorians often pop into people’s heads. However, the policies that allow for the last part is also strangling Northern California itself.  Strict single-family zoning in urban areas forces municipalities to become much less dense. If these towns or cities become economic hotspots such as in the Bay Area, then prices near job centers will rise and people have to build outwards and further away to find a place to live. This phenomenon has pushed people into the wildland-urban interface, making it more likely for fires to start and more difficult for people to cope with the effects of climate change. This is How Single-Family Zoning Is Driving Wildfire Vulnerabilities in Northern California.