Articles tagged with Fire
A new study suggests that overgrazing and other factors increase the severity of cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush steppe ecosystems. Researchers propose minimizing cumulative impact of grazing through better management to promote a diverse ecosystem and conserve native plant and wildlife species.
Controlled fires are deliberately set by fire officials to clean out dry underbrush and debris. This strategy helps prevent devastating bushfires from getting out of control, as evident in the NASA image of southern Australia showing well-planned and controlled burns.
NASA's Aqua satellite provided satellite images of Siberian wildfires, indicating a high likelihood due to dry conditions. The MODIS instrument detected hotspots in the region, which were then mapped over satellite images for clickable analysis.
The NOAA GOES infrared and visible imagery created a 17-second animation of the smoke plume from May 3 to May 5, showing it blow westward into the eastern Pacific. The fire consumed 28,000 acres of brush in the coastal area northwest of Los Angeles.
A NASA satellite captured a clear image of the growing Springs Fire in California using its highly sensitive instrument. The fire consumed over 28,000 acres of brush before being brought under control by firefighting efforts.
Agricultural fires are a common occurrence in eastern Russia, particularly during the planting season. The Russian military uses specially equipped transport airplanes to put out over 90 fires, highlighting the need for monitoring and intervention.
The Springs Fire has reached the beach in Ventura County and is pushing toward the upscale city of Malibu due to howling Santa Ana winds and dry vegetation. As of early Friday morning, the fire had grown to 10,000 acres and was 10% contained, with over 2,000 homes under threat.
Hundreds of deliberate fires were detected in Guerrero, Oaxaca, Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco regions. The fires are managed by farmers to clear land and enhance crops, but also produce smoke degrading air quality.
Controlled fires in southern Australia are being used to clear dry underbrush and debris, reducing the risk of devastating bushfires. NASA's satellite imagery shows a mix of planned and spontaneous fires, with most currently under control.
A fast-moving brush fire broke out in Riverside County, forcing the evacuation of several communities and destroying one home. Over 400 firefighters have been working to contain the nearly 3,000-acre Summit Fire.
Hundreds of deliberate fires were detected in West Africa by NASA's MODIS satellite on May 01, 2013. The fires were likely set to manage land for farming and crop rotation, but also produce smoke degrading air quality during the region's agricultural burning season.
A prescribed burn is being conducted on the 22,000-acre Otis Air National Guard installation to manage habitat and reduce wildfire risk. The burn aims to eliminate dead wood and debris that can act as fuel for wildfires.
NASA's MODIS satellite detected dozens of fires in Western Australia and the Northern Territory on April 28, 2013. The worst time for fire is late in the dry season, when vegetation has dried to tinder and blazes tend to be uncontrollable.
In eastern Russia, fires are set to clear land for planting and renew pastures. Fire is used globally as a tool for managing resources, mitigating larger wildfires.
A new study found that large, hot fires do not necessarily lead to scorched soil. Instead, the soil temperature is affected by factors such as fire speed, heat travel direction, and landscape moisture content. This counterintuitive result could help forest managers plan controlled burns more effectively.
A recent study published in Atmospheric Environment found that air pollution from wildland fires and urban areas is reducing air quality at Devils Postpile National Monument. Ozone concentrations exceeded California standards, posing a risk to sensitive individuals, and may have phytotoxic effects on plants.
Early season prescribed burns, such as those conducted by the NASA-backed Ecofire program, are more effective at containing fires and reducing long-term damage. By mimicking traditional Aboriginal fire practices, these early-season burns can help reestablish vegetation and prevent the formation of extensive burn scars.
New York City tests suggest using repeaters to improve wireless emergency safety equipment in underground structures and high-rise buildings. The findings support NIST's next round of test methods for reliable voice radio and emergency beacon operations.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that the rat's hippocampus uses remembered spatial information to imagine routes, guiding behavior. This finding has implications for understanding memory and imagination in people with Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline.
Nepal and India experience widespread agricultural fires, burning in the April 13, 2013 image from NASA's MODIS satellite. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) detected actively burning areas, which are outlined in red.
Widespread fires were observed in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras in a NASA satellite image taken on April 11, 2013. The fires may be caused by the region's dry season or deliberate actions by farmers to clear old crops.
Dozens of fires have been detected in the Yucatan Peninsula, with many believed to be deliberately set for agriculture purposes. The region is experiencing its dry season, which often leads to an increase in fires.
Thousands of wildfires are burning across the southeastern United States, with many prescribed fires also taking place to manage undergrowth and agricultural purposes. The National Interagency Fire Center reports 17 large fires, including three uncontained ones.
Dozens of agricultural fires have been set in India and Nepal, with the NASA MODIS satellite capturing their extent. The fires are outlined in red on this natural-color image from April 06, 2013.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured smoke and heat signatures from fires in Victoria's national parks on April 9, 2013. The affected areas include Snowy River, Errinundra, and Coopracamba National Parks.
Fires in Southeast Asia are ongoing, with crop burning identified as a primary cause. NASA images capture the extent of these fires, which can have devastating environmental impacts.
A new study questions the effectiveness of improved cookstoves in reducing air pollutants, particularly ultrafine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. The research found that while overall soot emissions are lower, these stoves still release three times more worrisome ultrafine particles than traditional open fires.
Researchers study terrestrial water storage data to predict fire activity in the Amazon region months in advance. They find that during high fire years, water storage is below average before the fire season, while in low fire years, it is above average before the dry season.
A joint US-Canada experiment, CAUSE, successfully demonstrated the ability to exchange information between local, state, and national systems across international borders. First responders could visualize resource deployments using situational awareness tools like Virtual Maine and MASAS, improving response efforts.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that bats are neutral or positively impacted by moderate to high-severity forest fires. The research suggests that fires may create a habitat structure beneficial for various bat species, with some even preferring burned areas for foraging.
A new study from Princeton University provides evidence for how the brain performs this feat. Grid cells are neurons that become electrically active as animals travel in an environment, and their activity ramping up and down corresponds with a proposed mechanism of neural computation called an attractor network.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a technique to observe hundreds of neurons firing in the brain of a live mouse in real-time. The tool uses fluorescent protein and calcium ions to decipher patterns in brain activity, offering insights into long-term information storage and spatial memory.
Researchers at World Agroforestry Centre developed nomographs to map out fire behavior, pinpointing optimal conditions for early-season prescribed fires. These controlled burns reduce the risk of late dry season bushfires, exacerbated by climate change.
Researchers identified a social chromosome in the red fire ant that enables multiple queens, outperforming single-queen colonies in busy environments. The discovery could lead to novel pest control strategies, such as deactivating genes in the social chromosome to induce social anarchy.
A recent study finds that uncontrolled blazes in the Peruvian Amazon are driven by depopulation, increased road networks, and drought, leading to devastating forest, farm, and village losses. Researchers suggest that government policies promoting oil palm plantations could help mitigate these effects.
Bright areas in Western Australia are caused by wildfires, confirmed by satellite data and composite imaging. The fires, detected over nine days in April and 13 days in October, appear as a massive blaze due to cumulative lighting.
Researchers found that invasive cheatgrass is linked to larger and more frequent fires, particularly in the Great Basin. The study used satellite imagery to identify cheatgrass in disproportionately high numbers of fires.
A new study using satellite images suggests that invasive cheatgrass is a significant cause of larger, hotter and more frequent range fires in the Great Basin. Cheatgrass fueled most of the largest fires over the past decade, influencing 39 of the largest 50.
Researchers have found evidence of smoke from Arctic wildfires drifting over the Greenland ice sheet, darkening its surface and increasing the likelihood of melting. The soot from these fires can capture the sun's heat, accelerating the melting process.
Scientists using NASA satellite data and climate models have projected an increase in fire risk across the US by 2050, with more fire seasons expected to be longer and stronger. The analysis suggests that greenhouse gas emissions will lead to drier conditions favoring fire activity.
A new study by University of Colorado and Loyola professors found that replacing a head coach for poor team performance has mixed results. On average, teams with poor records see a short-lived improvement in performance after a coaching change, while mediocre teams' records worsen.
USDA researchers developed a formula to create eco-friendly fire logs and pellets from lawn clippings, agricultural waste, and plant-derived oils. The logs burn brighter, longer, and emit less pollution.
Researchers found that a little distraction can help drone operators stay engaged and perform better. Participants who were distracted 30% of the time scored almost as high as those who focused the majority of their attention on the simulation.
The article assesses Australia's giant eucalyptus trees' classification as rainforest species, sparked by their unique relationship with fire. The study finds that despite being dependent on fire for regeneration, these trees coexist on the margins of rainforests and should be considered part of the ecosystem.
A Drexel University researcher is developing a survey to measure the safety climate of fire departments, which will help identify areas for improvement. The study aims to reduce firefighter injuries and casualties, with potential applications for improving safety culture in other industries.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute will collaborate to develop a wearable, pocket-sized device warning firefighters of toxic gases. The sensor aims to reduce line of duty injuries and deaths caused by hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide.
A new study links forest greenness in the western United States to fluctuating year-to-year snowpack extent, with mid-elevation mountain ecosystems found to be most sensitive to rising temperatures and changes in precipitation and snowmelt. The research provides important insights into the tipping point between water-limited forests an...
The ACS symposium highlights the critical role of forensic chemistry in protecting the innocent, featuring exonerated individuals and experts who used DNA testing to prove their innocence. The event also emphasizes the need for reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.
The study reveals that horizontal convective rolls affected fire behaviour, introducing variability in wind, temperature, and humidity conditions. This new understanding has the potential to improve fire management and warning systems, providing a better guide for public warning systems and firefighting resources.
A new University of Utah-led study suggests that global cooling, rather than population collapse, was the primary driver of reduced wildfires globally. The research analyzed charcoal samples spanning 2,000 years and found a significant decline in fires post-1500 AD, which coincided with the onset of the Little Ice Age.
A study by Penn's Daniel Janzen and colleagues reveals that four-fifths of protected forest areas have experienced declines in health, with half suffering more serious losses. The research highlights the challenges faced by conservation efforts, including human encroachment, logging, and climate change.
Research suggests that active management of forest lands in high-fire-risk areas can improve forest health and reduce the threat to the northern spotted owl. The study found that over a long-term period, managing sites with high fire hazard would be more favorable for spotted owl conservation.
By 2040, parts of Washington State could lose up to a third of their carbon stores due to increasing wildfire risk. This would significantly impact the region's ability to act as carbon sinks and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers found that acorns inside leaf litter or soil are protected from fire, while those on top of the litter are vulnerable to low-intensity surface fires. The study suggests optimal timing and conditions for prescribed burning to promote oak regeneration without harming acorns.
The Suomi NPP satellite is now providing 'direct broadcast' data to users in real-time, enabling quick evaluation of regional events such as forest fires and flooding. This data is used by organizations like the USDA Forest Service to produce fire mapping products and inform decision makers.
The Waldo Canyon Fire has burned over 15,517 acres near Colorado Springs, forcing evacuations of at least 32,000 people. NASA satellites continue to provide coverage of the fire, which is currently being battled by over 750 firefighters.
Fires raged in southwestern and northeastern Colorado, with the High Park Fire consuming 83,205 acres, the second-largest fire in Colorado history. The Weber Fire burned approximately 8,300 acres, while the Little Sand Fire had been burning for weeks, threatening nearly 200 people.
Multiple large fires are burning across western US states, with NASA's Aqua satellite capturing images of smoke and hot spots. The High Park Fire in Colorado has burned over 68,200 acres, while the Poco Fire in Arizona has burned over 11,950 acres.
The High Park Fire in Colorado has expanded to 65,738 acres with over 1,900 people battling the blaze. The fire has generated significant smoke visible on NASA satellite imagery, affecting nearby areas like Wyoming and Nebraska.
A new study projects increased fire activity across large parts of the planet due to climate change, particularly in the western United States. Meanwhile, fire activity is expected to decrease in tropical rainforests as a result of increased rainfall.