ScienceDaily: Wildfire News

Satellites see double jeopardy for Southern California fire season

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:45:45 EDT

New insights into two factors that are creating a potentially volatile Southern California wildfire season come from an ongoing project using NASA and Indian satellite data by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.; and Chapman University, Orange, Calif.

Progress in introducing cleaner cook stoves for billions of people worldwide

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:28:28 EDT

It may be the 21st century, but nearly half the world's population still cooks and heats with open fires or primitive stoves that burn wood, animal dung, charcoal and other polluting solid fuels. A new article describes impressive progress being made to remedy that situation and the obstacles that remain.

Smoke signals: How burning plants tell seeds to rise from the ashes

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:59:59 EDT

In the spring following a forest fire, trees that survived the blaze explode in new growth and plants sprout in abundance from the scorched earth. For centuries, it was a mystery how seeds, some long dormant in the soil, knew to push through the ashes to regenerate the burned forest.

Wildfires can burn hot without ruining soil

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:57:57 EDT

When scientists torched an entire 22-acre watershed in Portugal in a recent experiment, their research yielded a counterintuitive result: Large, hot fires do not necessarily beget hot, scorched soil.

Bats not bothered by forest fires, study finds

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:11:11 EST

A survey of bat activity in burned and unburned areas after a major wildfire in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains found no evidence of detrimental effects on bats one year after the fire. The findings suggest that bats are resilient to high-severity fire, and some species may even benefit from the effects of fire on the landscape.

Science synthesis to help guide land management of U.S. forests

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:20:20 EST

Scientists have recently released a synthesis of relevant science that will help inform forest managers as they revise plans for the national forests in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades of California.

Scientists develop improved fire management tools for Africa's savannas

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:41:41 EST

Scientists have developed specialized graphs that map out fire behavior, known as nomographs, for landscape managers in Africa's savannas. The study pinpoints the optimal conditions for setting early-season prescribed fires -- a process that when executed and timed properly, reduces the risk and impact of late dry season bushfires in increasingly fragile ecosystems, both of which are exacerbated by climate change.

Measuring the consequence of forest fires on public health

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:58:58 EST

Pollution from forest fires is impacting the health of people with asthma and other chronic obstructive lung diseases, finds a new study. This study uses data from pharmacies and dispensaries to measure the increase in drugs needed to alleviate symptoms associated with pollution.

Will the world end on December 21, 2012? What we know and don't know about forecasting natural disasters

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:03:03 EST

Based on interpretations of the ancient Maya calendar, some people are predicting the world will end on December 21, 2012, Others believe that instead of doomsday and destruction, the day will mark a new era for humanity and will be a time for celebration. Such beliefs aside, what we know with certainty is that Earth has a tremendous capacity to generate natural disasters on any day of any year. For this reason, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists continue to look for ways to better forecast a wide range of natural hazards and protect our communities.

Warming climate unlikely to cause extinction of ancient Amazon trees, study finds

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:23:23 EST

New genetic analysis has revealed that many Amazon tree species are likely to survive human-made climate warming in the coming century, contrary to previous findings that temperature increases would cause them to die out.

As Amazon urbanizes, rural fires burn unchecked

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:08:08 EST

Many Amazonians are moving out of the countryside, in search of economic opportunities in newly booming Amazonian cities. The resulting depopulation of rural areas, along with spreading road networks and increased drought, are causing more and bigger fires to ravage vast stretches, say researchers in a new study.

Invasive grass fuels increased fire activity in the West

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:23:23 EST

An invasive grass species may be one reason fires are bigger and more frequent in certain regions of the western United States, according to a team of researchers.

Fire and ice: Wildfires darkening Greenland snowpack, increasing melting

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:28:28 EST

Satellite observations have revealed the first direct evidence of smoke from Arctic wildfires drifting over the Greenland ice sheet, tarnishing the ice with soot and making it more likely to melt under the sun.

U.S wildfire risk worsening, according to climate projections

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:59:59 EST

Scientists have projected drier conditions likely will cause increased fire activity across the United States in coming decades. Other findings about U.S. wildfires, including their amount of carbon emissions and how the length and strength of fire seasons are expected to change under future climate conditions, were also researched.

Do Australia's giant fire-dependent trees belong in the rainforest?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:40:40 EDT

Australia's giant eucalyptus trees are the tallest flowering plants on earth, yet their unique relationship with fire makes them a huge puzzle for ecologists. Now the first global assessment of these giants seeks to end a century of debate over the species' classification, a debate which may determine their future.

Repopulation of countryside is essential tool to avoid major fires, Spanish experts say

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:06:06 EDT

A preliminary report on the major fires Valencia, Spain suggests that repopulation of the countryside is an essential tool to avoid major forest fires, and points out alternative solutions such as biological firewalls that involve developing pastures.

Forest fires linked to low temperatures two years before

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:45:45 EDT

Researchers analyzed the impact of interannual and seasonal climate variability on the fires occurred in Catalonia, Spain, last summer. The study concludes that summer fires, related to summer climate conditions, are correlated with antecedent climate conditions, especially winter and spring ones with a lag time of two years. The results suggest that precipitation and temperature conditions regulate fuel flammability and fuel structure. According to the correlations observed, the study provides a model to produce long-term predictions.

Wildfires in Washington State

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:28:28 EDT

The summer of 2012 will unfortunately be known as the "Summer of Devastating Western Wildfires" and practically not one state out west was spared. Washington State has been hardest hit of late. This satellite image shows a rash of wildfires currently burning in the middle of the state.

Study shows wildfires' positive and negative economic impacts

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:16:16 EDT

Despite the disruptions they cause, large wildfires are a mixed economic bag for nearby communities, according to new research.

European Forest Fire Information System: Current situation in Europe

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 08:54:54 EDT

The 2012 fire season has been characterized by a high number of fires in the early season. Over 100,000 hectares had already been consumed by fire at the end of March. July brought critical fire episodes in Spain and Portugal, which led to a number of human casualties.

Unusual weather events identified during 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:45:45 EDT

Research has revealed that the extremely hot, dry and windy conditions on Black Saturday in the Australian state of Victoria combined with structures in the atmosphere called 'horizontal convective rolls' -- similar to streamers of wind flowing through the air -- which likely affected fire behavior.

Climate warming refuted as reason for plant shifts in high-profile 2008 study

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:14:14 EDT

The simple model of how plants handle climate change doesn't always explain what's going on.

Active forest management to reduce fire could help protect northern spotted owl

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:45:45 EDT

The northern spotted owl, a threatened species in the Pacific Northwest, would actually benefit in the long run from active management of the forest lands that form its primary habitat and are increasingly vulnerable to stand-replacing fire.

Washington's forests will lose stored carbon as area burned by wildfire increases

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 10:46:46 EDT

Forests in the Pacific Northwest store more carbon than any other region in the United States, but our warming climate may undermine their storage potential. A new study has found that, by 2040, parts of Washington State could lose as much as a third of their carbon stores, as an increasing area of the state's forests is projected to be burned by wildfire.

Native plant restoration not enough to maintain tropical dry forests in Hawaii

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:48:48 EDT

Protecting Hawaiian dry forests from invasive species and the risk of wildfire is an ongoing challenge for land managers and scientists conducting research on the Island of Hawaii. It is commonly thought that removing the invasive species and planting native species will restore the land to its original state. However, a recent article found that it is not quite that simple.

NASA satellites see wildfires across Colorado

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:38:38 EDT

NASA's Aqua satellite captured a natural-color image of Colorado wildfires raging on June 23, 2012.

NASA satellite sees several western U.S. fires blazing

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:11:11 EDT

Fires are raging in the western U.S. and in one overpass from its orbit around Earth, NASA's Aqua satellite picked up smoke and identified hot spots from fires in Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.

Climate change to alter global fire risk

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:48:48 EDT

Climate change is widely expected to disrupt future fire patterns around the world, with some regions, such as the western United States, seeing more frequent fires within the next 30 years, according to a new analysis. The study used 16 different climate change models to generate what the researchers said is one of the most comprehensive projections to date of how climate change might affect global fire patterns.

Satellite sees smoke from Siberian fires reach the US coast

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:16:16 EDT

Fires burning in Siberia recently sent smoke across the Pacific Ocean and into the US and Canada. Images of data taken by the nation's newest Earth-observing satellite tracked aerosols from the fires taking six days to reach America's shores.

U.S. experienced second warmest May, warmest spring on record, NOAA reports

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:57:57 EDT

According to NOAA scientists, the average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during May was 64.3°F, 3.3°F above the long-term average, making it the second warmest May on record. The month's high temperatures also contributed to the warmest spring, warmest year-to-date, and warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895.

Wildfire and an example of its important link to the ecosystem

Thu, 31 May 2012 16:56:56 EDT

A dilemma is smouldering -- even as wildfires top the current headlines. New research highlights the practice of aggressive fire suppression by using studies at Lake Tahoe as an active example.

Effects of trees killed by bark beetles on wildfire

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:23:23 EDT

A recent report analyzing a range of published studies on the impact of bark beetles on trees in the US and Canada provides a more complete picture of the effect of this destructive insect on wildfires.

Fire beetles may revolutionize early-warning systems for forest fires

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:21:21 EDT

Black fire beetles of the genus Melanophila possess unusual infrared sensors. It seems that they use these to detect forest fires, even from great distances, since their wood-eating larvae can only develop in freshly burned trees. Scientists have been wondering for a long time how sensitive these biological IR sensors really are. Researchers have concluded that the beetles' sensors might even be more sensitive that uncooled infrared sensors designed by humans. Having this natural model opens up new perspectives, such as for early warning systems for forest fires.

Ancient tree-ring records from southwest U.S. suggest today's megafires are truly unusual

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:03:03 EDT

Today's mega forest fires of the southwestern U.S. are truly unusual and exceptional in the long-term record, suggests an unprecedented study that examined 1,500 years of ancient tree ring and fire data from two distinct climate periods. Researchers constructed and analyzed a statistical model and found that today's dry, hot climate combined with the past century of human fire suppression is causing megafires.

First forecast calls for mild Amazon fire season in 2012

Thu, 10 May 2012 22:50:50 EDT

Forests in the Amazon Basin are expected to be less vulnerable to wildfires this year, according to the first forecast from a new fire severity model.

Engineers put five-story building on seismic shake table to test earthquake and fire readiness

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:09:09 EDT

What happens when you put a fully equipped five-story building, which includes an intensive care unit, a surgery suite, piping and air conditioning, fire barriers and even a working elevator, through series of high-intensity earthquakes?

Impact of warming climate doesn't always translate to streamflow

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:17:17 EDT

An analysis of 35 headwater basins in the United States and Canada found that the impact of warmer air temperatures on streamflow rates was less than expected in many locations, suggesting that some ecosystems may be resilient to certain aspects of climate change.

When dinosaurs roamed a fiery landscape

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:47:47 EDT

New research reveals dinosaurs may have faced an unexpected hazard: fire. Scientists have shown that during the Cretaceous fire was much more widespread than previously thought.

Study of wildfire trends in Northwestern California shows no increase in severity over time

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:39:39 EST

Even though wildfires have increased in size over time, they haven't necessarily grown in severity nor had corresponding negative impacts to the ecosystem, according to a recent study.

More Catastrophic Fires Ahead for Western U.S.

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:10:10 EST

Catastrophic wildfires are on the rise in the western United States and a set of conditions may be contributing to a perfect storm for more fires, according to new research.

Sobering future of wildfire dangers in U.S. west, researchers predict

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:49:49 EST

The American West has seen a recent increase in large wildfires due to droughts, the build-up of combustible fuel, or biomass, in forests, a spread of fire-prone species and increased tree mortality from insects and heat. A research team warns that these conditions may be "a perfect storm" for more fires.

Report on Texas fire urges firefighters to consider wind effects

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:28:28 EST

Wind conditions at a fire scene can make a critical difference on the behavior of the blaze and the safety of firefighters, even indoors, according to a new report.

Impact of land use activity in the Amazon basin evaluated

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:37:37 EST

Portions of the Amazon basin are experiencing a transition in energy and water cycles. Evidence suggests that the Amazon may also be transitioning from a net carbon sink to a net source. This research shows that although the Amazon is resilient to individual disturbances, such as drought, multiple disturbances override this, increasing the vulnerability of forest ecosystems to degradation. This review provides a framework for understanding the associations between natural variability and drivers of change.

Reclaiming land after a forest fire

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:34:34 EST

Researchers treated burnt soil with an organic polymer used in agriculture. Applying granules of the non-toxic polymer cut soil erosion by half in both laboratory and field experiments.

Forest health versus global warming: Fuel reduction likely to increase carbon emissions

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:39:39 EST

Forest thinning to help prevent or reduce severe wildfire will release more carbon to the atmosphere than any amount saved by successful fire prevention. There may be valid reasons to thin forests – such as restoration of forest structure or health, wildlife enhancement or public safety – but increased carbon sequestration is not one of them.

Rapid rise in wildfires in large parts of Canada? Ecologists find threshold values for natural wildfires

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:42:42 EST

Large forest regions in Canada are apparently about to experience rapid change. Based on models, scientists can now show that there are threshold values for wildfires just like there are for epidemics. Large areas of Canada are apparently approaching this threshold value and may in future exceed it due to climate change. As a result both the area burnt down annually and the average size of the fires would increase, researchers say.

Study finds failure points in firefighter protective equipment

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:54:54 EST

In fire experiments conducted in uniformly furnished, but vacant Chicago-area townhouses, researchers uncovered temperature and heat-flow conditions that can seriously damage facepiece lenses on standard firefighter breathing equipment, a potential contributing factor for first-responder fatalities and injuries.

Ocean temperatures can predict Amazon fire season severity

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:23:23 EST

By analyzing nearly a decade of satellite data, a team of scientists has created a model that can successfully predict the severity and geographic distribution of fires in the Amazon rain forest and the rest of South America months in advance.

Sea change can forecast South American wildfires

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:20:20 EST

Tiny temperature changes on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans provide an excellent way to forecast wildfires in South American rainforests, new research shows.

Aerial robot system can save firefighter lives, study suggests

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:15:15 EST

A new system built around an unmanned aerial vehicle has faced a real-world test in a West Virginia controlled forest burn, and proved its usefulness.

Delaware Fire Service offers important lessons for fire prevention programs nationwide

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:02:02 EST

Fire and life safety programs in Delaware offer a strategic, comprehensive and coordinated approach to fire prevention. A new study highlights the diversity of prevention initiatives underway in the state and documents how tradition, dedication, and a sense of community are keys to success for the program. Delaware was chosen for the study because some federal fire officials view the state as a model for fire and life safety practices.

Wetlands: Drying intensifying wildfires, carbon release ninefold, study finds

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:55:55 EDT

Drying of northern wetlands has led to much more severe peatland wildfires and nine times as much carbon released into the atmosphere, according to new research.

Savannas and forests in a battle of the biomes

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:06:06 EDT

Climate change, land use and other human-driven factors could pit savannas and forests against each other by altering the elements found by researchers to stabilize the two. Without this harmony, the habitats, or biomes, could increasingly encroach on one other to the detriment of the people and animals that rely on them.

Production of biofuel from forests will increase greenhouse gas emissions, study finds

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:56:56 EDT

The largest and most comprehensive study yet done on the effect of biofuel production from West Coast forests has concluded that an emphasis on bioenergy would increase carbon dioxide emissions from these forests at least 14 percent. The findings are contrary to assumptions and some previous studies that suggest biofuels from this source would be carbon-neutral or even reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this research, that wasn't true in any scenario.

Visual tour of Earth's fires

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:56:56 EDT

NASA has released a series of new satellite data visualizations that show tens of millions of fires detected worldwide from space since 2002.

'Albedo effect' in forests can cause added warming, bonus cooling

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:17:17 EDT

Wildfire, insect outbreaks and hurricanes destroy huge amounts of forest every year and increase the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere, but scientists are now learning more about another force that can significantly affect their climate impact. Researchers conclude in a new study that the albedo effect, which controls the amount of energy reflected back into space, is important in the climatic significance of several types of major forest disturbances.

Spreading like wildfire? Maybe not always: Research helps define fire standards to protect homes

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:38:38 EDT

The US Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate is funding experimental fire research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology to discover when and how quickly wildfire embers ignite fires in structures along the wildland urban interface, and what we can do to prevent it.

Super-tough seed coat keeps Michaux's sumac on critically endangered list

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:44:44 EDT

It is one of the rarest shrubs in the southeastern United States, and for scientists trying to save it, the critically endangered Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii) is not cooperating.

Forest structure, services and biodiversity may be lost even as form remains

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:18:18 EDT

A forest may look like a forest, have many of the same trees that used to live there, but still lose the ecological, economic or cultural values that once made it what it was, researchers suggest.

In unique fire tests, outdoor decks will be under firebrand attack

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EDT

NIST will unleash its Dragon, an invention that bellows showers of glowing embers, at a unique wind tunnel test facility in Japan, where researchers will evaluate the vulnerability of outdoor deck assemblies and materials to ignition during wildfires, a growing peril that accounts for half of the nation's 10 most costly fires.