Wildfire
- July 19, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Wildfire
Subject: Environment
Context: By nearly every metric, the wildfires in the Western United States are worsening. They are growing larger, spreading faster and reaching higher, scaling mountain elevations that previously were too wet and cool to have supported fires this fierce.
Concept:
Wildfires worsening
- In the forests of the Western United States, half of wildfires are initiated by lightning.
- Human-caused — frequently started by power lines, cigarettes, cars, camp fires or arson.
- In recent years, there’s been an abundance of very dry fuel.
- Drought and high heat can kill trees and dry out dead grass, pine needles, and any other material on the bottom of the forest floor that act as kindling when a fire sweeps through a forest.
- Wildfire experts see the signature of climate change in the dryness, high heat and longer fire season that have made these fires more extreme.
- Forested land in the region burned naturally from lightning or else was intentionally burned by native communities as a form of forest maintenance.
Extreme fire
- Wildfires according to metrics including intensity, rate of spread, and severity.
- Fire intensity refers to its power, or the energy released from its blaze. Satellites measure the energy and temperature of fires, and research has shown that the power of these blazes has been increasing.
- The rate of spread is one of the most important factors, because it suggests that a fire may be less predictable. Though the size, or acreage, of a fire is important, it’s more important to watch how quickly it is moving.
- Severity refers to the consequences of a fire, for instance, how many trees are killed. If a fire is tall and burning to the tops of trees and killing them, it could be more challenging to control.
Effects
- Like air pollution, wildfire smoke — and particularly the concentration of PM 2.5, or particles smaller than 2.5 microns — can affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, For people who are healthy, the smoke can cause a sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath or decreased lung function
- . Those already suffering from cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses are at risk of flare-ups and should take extra precautions even when air quality is considered moderate.
- the chemical composition of wildfire smoke, which depends on what’s being burned.
- Trees and biomass, for instance, will produce a combination of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides, whereas burning houses or cars could produce a whole range of compounds, including heavy metals.
Steps recommended
- Air quality is particularly bad, stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed and use HEPA filters if possible.
- have access to a HEPA filter, there’s evidence that attaching a quality filter to a box fan can be protective. Outdoors wear a form-fitting N95 mask.
- Landscaping changes can make a difference, too. Fire experts think in terms of the 0-5 Zone, which refers to the 5-foot perimeter around a house. That zone should be kept clear of debris, firewood, plants or mulch. “