Why Big, Intense Wildfires Are the New Normal

pjp

Why Big, Intense Wildfires Are the New Normal

Aren't forests cited as a significant carbon sink? The article doesn't mention the potential impact due to the release of captured carbon.
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McGruff · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 145

Depends what grows back between fires.

pjp · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 3:31 pm Post subject:

It takes a long time after a fire for anything meaningful to grow back.
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Old School · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 3:41 pm Post subject:

pjp · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 4:45 pm Post subject:

It can take up to ten years to have enough meaningful growth to prevent washout of soil. Weeds and some undergrowth, sure. A few years ago, I drove through part of a wildfire area that happened in 2002, and there was nothing even remotely close to the same height as the charred timber still standing.

This isn't exact, but it is similar. Actually, that makes for an excellent example. That is apparently from Dec 2003. I saved this picture, and EXIF indicates 2007.

I don't discount your experience, but I'm going by what I've seen, along with what local forestry experts are saying.
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sikpuppy · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 4:53 pm Post subject:

I'd say it depends how long it's been since the last fire. If it's been decades then the area will look like a nukes gone off afterwards, if it's been a few years then the fire will just pass through rapidly and be easier to control. I suppose that's the theory behind controlled burning near residential areas and protected parklands. Clear the undergrowth in a corridor, and make sure the backburn doesn't get out of control.

eponymous_dick · Veteran Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1550 Location: U.S.A.

It's because of Global Warming, and it's Bush's fault.

There never used to be a problem with big wildfires out West. :roll:

That's why even the Japanese knew they could probably set the entire West Coast ablaze by dropping a few carefully placed incendiary bombs (except it turned out to be unusually wet the year they tried).

These fires have always been going on, every time it gets on the dry side. The problem is that we've had so much suburban expansion that we're now stupidly living where the fires burn, and the more people you've got, the more chance somebody is going to start a fire.
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pjp · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 10:16 pm Post subject:

And before we lived where the fires burn, we lived where the tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes roamed.

The premise isn't that Oh my God, now we have fires and we didn't ever before. It is that they have gotten worse, partly due to lolgov mismanagement of undergrowth and partly due to climate change. A lot of "largest" ever fires on this list in the 2000s. Of course, all of those can be ignored, cause there was North America's largest fire in 1950.
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eponymous_dick · Veteran Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1550 Location: U.S.A.

So what do we need to do? Controlled burns of undergrowth?
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sikpuppy · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 1:08 am Post subject:

Old School · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 1:46 am Post subject:

pjp · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:23 am Post subject:

Old School · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:42 am Post subject:

Here is a good picture of a ridge with different stages of growth, which creates a fire break. Just look at a satellite image of the Cascade Range in Washington or Oregon for an indication of size. You can see clearcuts of various stages of regrowth.
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eponymous_dick · Veteran Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1550 Location: U.S.A.

Prenj · n00b Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 10 Location: Mostar, BiH

All of you lazy fucks who own a car, it's your fault! :lol:

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pjp · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:41 pm Post subject:

One of these days I still hope to get an SUV or a truck.
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