Why Australia's Wildfires Are So Extensive Now 

By: Stephanie Pappas and LiveScience 


In New South Wales, Australia, warm and dry winters have resulted in intense wildfires. (Pappas 1) These wildfires are negatively affecting the population and the nature in the surrounding areas. Australia is approaching the season of summer and is a lot of danger of wildfires but have also had many problems, which occurred in January. Smoke and ash can be seen in the air all throughout Sydney. "The past three months have been among the driest 10 percent on record in New South Wales", said Todd Lane, a meteorologist at Melbourne. (Pappas 1)

Australia has experienced 4 inches less rain, when compared to normal rain fall throughout the year. In addition, to the region being dry, it is also warmer. Winter temperatures were about 5 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the temperatures from the past reports. (Pappas 1) When these warm temperatures and decreased rainfalls are put together, they build a higher risk for wildfires. Four major fires have occurred throughout the NSW and there have been 53 smaller fires. All of these fires are putting natural areas and homes at risk. Furthermore, meteorologists have been predicting many winds and will really affect this environment. These winds will transition into huge gusts, which will then spread the fires into many other directions, so the people here really need to be prepared for the worst. "Complicating the response is the mountainous terrain where the fires are burning. Mountain wind is often 'stronger, gustier, and less predictable'. Eucalyptus forests may also be feeding the flames" (Lane 1). Overall, when looking at Australia, it is so common for this region to experience these wildfires, but they have been getting worse, especially because of these two components. The climate change really has a huge effect over these wildfires, when looking to the future. (Pappas 1)

 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-australias-wildfires-are-so-extensive-now