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https://theconversation.com/flash-droughts-pull-alarming-amounts-of-moisture-from-the-landscape-and-intensify-wildfires-new-research-287879>
"When catastrophic wildfires capture global headlines, such as the
unprecedented blazes sweeping through southern Europe this summer or the
devastating 2019–20 “Black Summer” in Australia, they are almost always
preceded by severe drought. Dry vegetation and parched landscapes are necessary
ingredients for infernos.
But not all droughts are created equal – the way a drought evolves can
drastically alter how a fire behaves once it ignites. As global temperatures
rise, a new and dangerous phenomenon is becoming increasingly common: the
“flash drought”.
Unlike standard droughts, which take place over months or years, flash droughts
are rapidly occurring dry spells, driven by intense heat and unusually low
humidity. They suck moisture out of the landscape at an alarming rate.
While scientists know standard droughts increase fire risks, a critical
question has remained unanswered: do flash droughts further increase this risk,
and what happens when these two drought types collide?
Our latest research mapped two decades of global satellite data to answer this
question. We found when landscapes transition from a prolonged standard drought
into a rapid flash drought – or when the two overlap – they create a
“hyper-flammable” state. This acts as a massive fire accelerant; they spread
faster, last longer and grow significantly larger than other wildfires."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
