Wildfires spread through Europe
- Thread starter RadishRose
- Start date
Paco Dennis
SF VIP
- Location
- Mid-Missouri
Europe continues to silently suffer the consequences of global climate warming. Silent deaths from extreme heat, a silent acceptance of a new normal and the inevitability of wild fires. Silence allows politicians to get away with inaction. "
Gekko @gekko.bsky.social
Gekko @gekko.bsky.social
JBR
Senior Member
I was a young journalist in the late 1970s when I began coming across very infrequent mention of where Earth's climate very possibly would go. I heard Jeremy Rifkin interviewed on CBC Radio (early '80s) after his book, Entropy: Into the Greenhouse World was released.
I started including this sort of topic & info in some of what I was writing. Much later, I learned that the first prediction of the increasing CO2 emissions Into the atmosphere, actually published in a scientific journal in 1938, could lead to warming temperatures on Earth.
It's always amazed and appalled me that so many national leaders during these recent decades were willing to ignore the topic in any practical sense.
In our democracies, we still elect some idiots.
Actually, in my region, last year was when the wildfires got closest to my home. But they've been increasing in frequency here over the last 15 years or so.
I started including this sort of topic & info in some of what I was writing. Much later, I learned that the first prediction of the increasing CO2 emissions Into the atmosphere, actually published in a scientific journal in 1938, could lead to warming temperatures on Earth.
It's always amazed and appalled me that so many national leaders during these recent decades were willing to ignore the topic in any practical sense.
In our democracies, we still elect some idiots.Actually, in my region, last year was when the wildfires got closest to my home. But they've been increasing in frequency here over the last 15 years or so.
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RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
so sadI was a young journalist in the late 1970s when I began coming across very infrequent mention of where Earth's climate very possibly would go. I heard Jeremy Rifkin interviewed on CBC Radio (early '80s) after his book, Entropy: Into the Greenhouse World was released.
I started including this sort of topic & info in some of what I was writing. Much later, I learned that the first prediction of the increasing CO2 emissions Ito the atmosphere, actually published in a scientific journal in 1938, could lead to warming temperatures on Earth.
It's always amazed and appalled me that so many national leaders during these recent decades were willing to ignore the topic in any practical sense.
Actually, in my region, last year was when the wildfires got closest to my home. But they've been increasing in frequency here over the last 15 years or so.
JBR
Senior Member
I'm sure you SF members read the news.
If people one day start flocking to Greenland, I hope it remains the autonomous territory that it is today. That is its status as part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
George1959
Senior Member
By the way: Have you ever thought about why Greenland is called Greenland?
Climate change always happened.
Climate change always happened.
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Didn't Greece have some of these wildfires over the few years? Sad to say the cause probably man made as in the US. Someone got careless with a fire, ash, amber or used an item that gets hot near the dry brush. Or even worse arson.
That being said how big or how much wildfire training do they get in Europe. Are they prepped and trained like in California?
That being said how big or how much wildfire training do they get in Europe. Are they prepped and trained like in California?
George1959
Senior Member
Arson is a major factor in wildfires.
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
seems like it's been several years now. Spain too.
OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
These terrible, frightening fires are creating a new breed of homelessness. I feel so bad for those who have lost everything, especially people who don't have the means to replace it all right away and resume their normal lives.
There are several reasons as to how wildfires start. Unattended camp fires, uncaring in the manner cigarette are discarded, lightning strikes are a few. There the lesser ways like, sparks from wires and fireworks, etc. are a few examples. Arson is a felony and people have been caught setting fires. Flipping a cigarette butt out the window while driving through a forest or past a hayfield is just plain stupid.
When vegetation isn’t properly managed wildfires that have been started can become out of control.
JBR
Senior Member
Vast forests on mountain ridges represent vegetation that's way beyond the means of humans to manage. The situation in my region is that, with climate change, high-elevation conifer forests are more frequently subjected to drier conditions.
True, some wildfires are ignited by a camp fire getting out of control, or sparks from machinery exhaust, or a power-line being severed & dropping to the ground... probably even a tossed down cigarette butt. But by far, most here start with a high-elevation lightning strike. If the forest is too dry, and no heavy rainfall happens to occur, there's no natural constraint or limitation.
Then planes, helicopters, and firefighters on the ground are the option. To be sure, those human efforts are respected and applauded around here.
True, some wildfires are ignited by a camp fire getting out of control, or sparks from machinery exhaust, or a power-line being severed & dropping to the ground... probably even a tossed down cigarette butt. But by far, most here start with a high-elevation lightning strike. If the forest is too dry, and no heavy rainfall happens to occur, there's no natural constraint or limitation.
Then planes, helicopters, and firefighters on the ground are the option. To be sure, those human efforts are respected and applauded around here.
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In California most wild fires started by humans or man made in some way. Human caused wildfires 6 times more than something like lightning strikes. It's not just arsonists which they seem to catch every year but stuff like sparks from a bike motor.
The Worst Wildfires Are Started by People. Here's How
Nature has always caused fires but human behavior and presence in these areas not helping.
The Worst Wildfires Are Started by People. Here's How
Nature has always caused fires but human behavior and presence in these areas not helping.
This not about the Europe fires but why fire is needed in parts of our Pine forests in the US
Fire History and Age Structure
NPS photo. 1. Fire History and Age Structure of Table Mountain Pine (Pinus pungens) in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Michael Armbrister and Henri Grissino-Mayer, 2000–2002. What scientific questions did the researchers ask? What is the fire history of Table Mountain pine (Pinus pungens) in the park? How old are the Table Mountain pines in the park? This was the first of what would be many investigations into tree rings, fire history, and climate research in the park. Table Mountain pine is one species that is fire-dependent because it needs the heat of fire to open its cones. When a plant depends on some sudden change in the environment—such as fire, rain, or a sudden heat wave—to release its seeds or start to bloom, we call it serotinous, which means “late developing.” Really it’s not “late,” but this term helps us remember that these plants “wait” for something outside to happen before they begin to change inside. What did researchers find? At a site in Cherokee Orchard, which is near Gatlinburg, the researchers didn’t see any trees with evidence of scars from past fire, and didn’t find any Table Mountain pine regeneration off-trail. What they did find were stands of healthy fire-intolerant red maple, which was flourishing since fire exclusion. The researchers did see signs of fire at Bull Head Mountain, Sugarland Mountain, and Bote Mountain sites, and collected cross-sections from stumps or snags to analyze the fire histories of the sites. A site along the Anthony Creek Trail was unique because it is very moist but has some evidence of fire in the past; it also was unique because there was no trace of southern pine beetle infestation. Usually, fire is common only in drier areas. Overall, based on the ages of the trees and the fire history they found in the tree rings, the study revealed that without fire the forest is changing. Fire-intolerant species (red maple and eastern hemlock, especially) are thriving in the understory because there has been no fire since the 1930s. Over time, the entire forest may change from a xeric (dry) forest type, in which fire and fire-dependent plant and animal species are common, to a mesic (medium-wet) forest type. Once the tree species change, the moisture in the soil will change, and fire will be much harder to reintroduce. This matters because native species that have been here for thousands of years (at least!) could disappear entirely. Already we have seen the Red-cockaded woodpecker disappear, because its preferred tree, the long-leaf pine, couldn’t reproduce without fire. |
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
JBR
Senior Member
@IrishEyes, interesting post. Prescriptive controlled burns are being done in my valley in southeastern British Columbia. The forests are mainly mixtures of Douglas fir, hemlock, red cedar, larch, and spruce. Our mountain ridges are as high as 6000 to 7000 ft. However, I don't believe any prescriptive burns are being carried out any higher up than 3000ft above sea level.
Many don't realize burns are necessary sometimes, it's a nature thing, mess with nature you ruin the eco-system in other ways too. I have one of those types of pinecones, it is about 7-8 inches tall and maybe 12-14 inches around. Had it since before 1979. It has never opened or fallen apart. I am not about to light it to see the seeds.
I think I brought it home from a trip to the High Sierra Mountains.