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It’s simple: Global warming worsens wildfires
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | August 19, 2018 | by Associated Press

Posted on 08/20/2018 11:40:07 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

As temperatures rise in the U.S. West, so do the flames.

The years with the most acres burned by wildfires have some of the hottest temperatures, an Associated Press analysis of fire and weather data found. As human-caused climate change has warmed the world over the past 35 years, the land consumed by flames has more than doubled.

Experts say the way global warming worsens wildfires comes down to the basic dynamics of fire. Fires need ignition, oxygen and fuel. And what’s really changed is fuel — the trees, brush and other plants that go up in flames.

“Hotter drier weather means our fuels are drier so it’s easier for fires to start and spread and burn more intensely,” said University of Alberta fire scientist Mike Flannigan.

It’s simple, he said: “The warmer it is, the more fire we see.”

(Excerpt) Read more at chicago.suntimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fakescience; gigo; globalwarming; globalwarminghoax; hoax; propaganda; socialism; steviewonder
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Today is the 118th anniversary of the Great Fire of 1910 which, alone, was over 3,000,000 acres or 4700 square miles. I guess climate change was alive and well even then.


21 posted on 08/20/2018 12:35:00 PM PDT by stoneyhll (If I am to err, let me err on the side of freedom)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Don’t confuse the liberals with your facts.
You’re a meanie.


22 posted on 08/20/2018 12:37:14 PM PDT by frank ballenger (End noncitizen & illegals voting & leftist media news censorship or we're finished.)
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To: JoSixChip
What happens when we have an unusually cold winter and we are back to “Climate Change”? How does that affect forest fires?

What are you talking about? We've always been at war with Eastasia!

23 posted on 08/20/2018 12:37:24 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Much of what we are seeing with respect to wildfires has absolutely nothing to do with what most people are talking about. It may largely be the result of a shift in “philosophy”. I recently came across an article (unfortunately posted at fivethirtyeight.com) entitled “Wildfires in the U.S. are getting bigger.” My apologies, as I do not know how to link to FreeRepublic.

The summary version of the story is that while over the past 30 years the number of wildfires in the U.S. has remained constant, or maybe even slightly declined, the total acreage burned on an annual basis has more than quadrupled. One could reasonably imagine that the number of people involved/time/expense necessary to extinguish has thus similarly quadrupled. Perhaps accidentally, the article includes this quote:

“Fire managers began to change their philosophy and allow some fires to burn in a more natural way in the 1970s, said Bill Gabbert, a former fire management officer and the current managing editor of Wildfire Today. Over the last 15 or 20 years, that’s become more of the norm. In the past, every little fire that started got put out before it burned much land. Today, one fire might be allowed to eat up much more built-up kindling. In addition, Collins told me, managers are now less likely to try to contain those fires to be as small as possible. Instead, there’s more of a wait and see approach, both because of the knowledge that the forests need to burn and because of an increased emphasis on protecting firefighters’ lives. It’s better to let the fire burn more acreage than risk lives unnecessarily.”


24 posted on 08/20/2018 12:38:12 PM PDT by drwoof
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To: Presbyterian Reporter

small correction—

Global Warming is a good excuse to cover up for bad forest management practices, allowing more ARSONIST psychos on the streets, and building houses in high fire danger areas.

The liberals can’t handle the fact they have aided and abetted the current wildfire problem. Global Warming allows them to sleep without any sense of guilt.


25 posted on 08/20/2018 12:38:24 PM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
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To: Hojczyk

“One of the biggest problems is the overcrowding of Western forests with dead trees, and the areas beween stand with dry, flammable grasses,” noted a recent analysis in the Washington Examiner. “Part of the problem is that logging and grazing have been discontinued or discouraged in too many places.”
Worse, the federal government’s policy of wildfire suppression has, perhaps paradoxically, contributed to the problem. Before humans lived here in enormous numbers, the landscape had many small fires that suddenly erupted from lightning strikes and other causes, and then burnt themselves out.

But in recent decades, the policy has been to stop fires immediately. This leaves huge areas of accumulating dry brush that catches fire fast and burns hot, with the fire traveling quickly once lit. That’s where we are today.


Dr. Ben Wattenberg preached about this 25-30 years ago and people in sacramento ignored him. The smartest guy in the room


26 posted on 08/20/2018 12:41:53 PM PDT by morphing libertarian (Use Comey's Report; Indict Hillary now. --- Proud Smelly Walmart Deplorable)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Yes, these hot dry conditions are a new phenomena in California.

Oh, wait!

King Clone

A ring of creosote bushes that are estimated to be 11,700 years old. Lucerne Valley, California

Gee, I wonder how long desert/drought conditions have existed in California?

27 posted on 08/20/2018 12:58:55 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer; All
Not convinced that global warming worsens wildfires.
28 posted on 08/20/2018 1:16:46 PM PDT by Amendment10
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Well it does because they used to be called Forest Fires ,LOL


29 posted on 08/20/2018 1:48:15 PM PDT by butlerweave
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
It's easy.
Either we cut down the trees and make use of them or nature will burn them for us.

30 posted on 08/20/2018 1:48:19 PM PDT by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
The left's reaction when you tell them they caused a gazillion tons of CO2 to be released into the air by preventing good forest management and water storage.


31 posted on 08/20/2018 2:03:10 PM PDT by Boomer (Beware The Obsessed Leftist Pit Bull Haters on FR. Same as Gun Grabbers.)
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To: stoneyhll

Is it 2028 already? I took a nap earlier, but it didn’t feel that long.


32 posted on 08/20/2018 2:10:16 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: karnage

That, and the fact that they let the fires get roaring before they do anything.


33 posted on 08/20/2018 2:16:48 PM PDT by Parmy
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To: Parmy

California firefighters do an incredible job. Conditions are extremely difficult: massive concentrations of tinder-dry fuel, extreme heat, very rugged terrain, and deadly high winds.

I really think the main problem is lack of forest management - no thinning, no dead tree removal, etc.


34 posted on 08/20/2018 3:01:21 PM PDT by karnage
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To: karnage

.
>> “I really think the main problem is lack of forest management” <<

Amen!

There has been zero maintenance or harvesting of our forests under Obummer.

We have a small ranch in the middle of the Stanislaus NF. There has been no management whatsoever since 2009.
.


35 posted on 08/20/2018 3:04:48 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

If these eco-fascists were any more stupid, we’d need to lock them in zoo cages and feed them bananas.


36 posted on 08/20/2018 4:33:52 PM PDT by sergeantdave (Teach a man to fish and he'll steal your gear and sell it)
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To: stoneyhll

” the Great Fire of 1910 which, alone, was over 3,000,000 acres or 4700 square miles.”

And the multiple fires of that event accomplished it all in about two days. Then the rains came and calmed everything down.


37 posted on 08/20/2018 7:47:00 PM PDT by Old Forester
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