Natural Disasters Week 11

Droughts

  • Causes: ocean temp, changes in jet stream, changes in local landscape

  • The most major drought killed over 50 mil across South America, Africa, India

  • Iowa and Illinois have been in and out of droughts

  • California grows 13% of US food (drought bad)

Wildfires

  • 44 million homes (10% of land) are in the wildland urban interface

  • 7.5 million acres impacted annually

  • 90% of wildfires are started by humans

  • When heat is added glucose breaks down to co2 and h20 and more heat

  • Federal agencies spent years fighting all forest fires

  • Increased amount of fuel available

  • Buildup of fuel added can increase intense fires

  • Long fetches in plains fan flames

  • Heated air creates convection

  • Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and toxic particles that come off of burning surroundings

  • Wildfire is extremely unhealthy, can make anyone sick

BEN ALMOST SET FIRE TO MOUNT SENTINAL