Causes of wildfires - california (case study)
- Created by: roseb00d
- Created on: 27-04-23 20:25
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- causes of wildfires - California (case study)
- Topography
- The two Mountain Ranges
- southern coast range
- mountain range by the coast forces the prevailing wind hitting the coast up the mountain
- this causes adiabatic cooling, this leading to condensation at the top of the mountains
- Adiabatic cooling is the process of reducing heat through a change in air pressure caused by volume expansion
- this causes adiabatic cooling, this leading to condensation at the top of the mountains
- there is a greater amount of rainfall here due to relief rainfall
- mountain range by the coast forces the prevailing wind hitting the coast up the mountain
- sierra navada
- the mountain range further inland
- processes happen here as they do at the southern coast range hut with drier air
- this leading to extremely dry air on the other side
- there is a desert on the other side mojave desert also called death valley
- this leading to extremely dry air on the other side
- processes happen here as they do at the southern coast range hut with drier air
- the mountain range further inland
- southern coast range
- San Joaquin Valley
- as the air travels down from the south coast ranges it heats up again (adiabatic heating)
- this causes a dry wind to fall onto san joaquin valley
- san joaquin valley is the valley in between the two mountain ranges
- there is a rainshadow effect due to this causing the area to be drier
- as the air travels down from the south coast ranges it heats up again (adiabatic heating)
- Relief
- the steep edges of the mountain provide perfect conditions for a wildfire to spread
- if the wildfire starts at the bottom of the hill it will catch onto the trees above it extremely easily
- this is most prevelent in the valley due to the rainshadow effect leading to drier trees/ overall conditions
- there is a rainshadow effect due to this causing the area to be drier
- this is most prevelent in the valley due to the rainshadow effect leading to drier trees/ overall conditions
- if the wildfire starts at the bottom of the hill it will catch onto the trees above it extremely easily
- the steep edges of the mountain provide perfect conditions for a wildfire to spread
- The two Mountain Ranges
- Climate
- Seasonal wind (santa ana)
- strong dry winds in the autumn and winter
- the provides oxygen - fuel- to any potential fire
- it also pushes the flame front forwards
- strong dry winds in the autumn and winter
- low relative humidity
- other winds
- Diablo winds, a dry current that flows from the east or northeast and down into the San Francisco Bay area, is often linked as a contributing factor that helps prolong the fire season.
- these winds blow from the desert regions of Nevada down to sea level,
- they warm the area by around 20C
- compressional heating and lose much of its humidity, triggering and spreading wildfires.
- they warm the area by around 20C
- these winds blow from the desert regions of Nevada down to sea level,
- Diablo winds, a dry current that flows from the east or northeast and down into the San Francisco Bay area, is often linked as a contributing factor that helps prolong the fire season.
- Seasonal wind (santa ana)
- vegitation
- humans
- 85-90% of wildfires are caused by human activities and negligence, providing the heat source it needed to ignite
- the El Dorado Fire in 2020, a forest fire that eventually burned down 13,715 acres due to a malfunctioning smoke-generating pyrotechnical device at a gender reveal party.
- 85-90% of wildfires are caused by human activities and negligence, providing the heat source it needed to ignite
- Wild Fires 2020
- California experienced its worst wildfire season on record, in which the Bay Area fire became one of the largest wildfires in American history
- the El Dorado Fire in 2020, a forest fire that eventually burned down 13,715 acres due to a malfunctioning smoke-generating pyrotechnical device at a gender reveal party.
- the state recorded up to nearly 10,000 blazes
- that burned down over 4 million acres of land,
- accounting for more than 4% of the state’s total land area
- that burned down over 4 million acres of land,
- solutions
- California Wildfire and Forest Management Task Force was created
- efforts to reduce wildfire risk for vulnerable communities, improve the health of forests and wildlands, and combat climate change
- the national conservancy
- Promote Ecological Forest Restoration and fuels reduction
- Invest in policies and programs that promote fire resilient communities by directing growth away from high fire risk zones and creating options for communities already in harm’s way.
- California Wildfire and Forest Management Task Force was created
- Topography
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