Articles tagged with Fire
A study by Vanderbilt University researchers found that tracking the motion of larger objects is more difficult than smaller ones. The center-surround receptive field organization in the brain's visual area helps filter out spurious signals, making it harder to distinguish moving objects from their background.
Researchers found that lightning is the primary source of low-altitude ozone in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, defying previous expectations. The discovery was made using satellite data and computer models, which showed a significant increase in ozone levels near areas with intense lightning activity.
Researchers used satellite data and a computer model to study ozone formation, finding that lightning strikes in tropical Atlantic may be a major contributor. The study combined data from multiple NASA satellites and a Canadian computer model to make the surprising discovery.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has developed a new instrument to study the metal of World Trade Center (WTC) steel. The apparatus rapidly compresses and heats samples at extremely high temperatures, helping to improve understanding of how steel responds under stress.
A new study by Northwestern University suggests Memphis should consider California-style earthquake building codes, but experts argue the costs would be too high. The proposed code could cut earthquake damage in half, but would increase construction costs by 10-33% and have significant economic impacts.
A new remote sensing system, the Wildfire Airborne Sensor Program (WASP), will be able to detect wildfires as small as 8-12 inches in diameter from 10,000 feet altitude. The system combines infrared and high-resolution visible cameras with GIS technology to provide accurate and reliable fire detection.
A NASA study found that El Nino events, such as the 1997-1998 event, lead to unusually high biomass burning globally, producing more pollution than fossil fuel combustion. The study assessed smoke pollution from biomass burning in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America during these droughts.
A new GIS tool called GeoWEPP can rapidly assess soil erosion and sediment delivery in streams after wildfires, allowing forest managers to quickly plan and implement conservation measures. The tool guides users to select the best and most cost-effective conservation measures to mitigate erosion and protect water sources.
Intentional deforestation in rainforests has gained attention, but unintentional out-of-control fires devour millions of acres of forests, threatening ecosystems. Fire behavior in rainforests differs from temperate forests, with slow-spreading fires having devastating effects on biodiversity and carbon emissions.
Scientists are developing new approaches to disaster prevention, including tools for wildfire management and prediction systems for heavy rainfall and landslides. These initiatives aim to reduce the impact of extreme weather events on communities.
Researchers have identified genetically superior cultivars of native grasses that can outcompete invasive species like cheatgrass. These findings could inform the development of effective re-vegetation strategies for burned and degraded lands.
The Centralia, PA underground coal fire has been burning since 1962 and is still active today. Temperature measurements indicate the fire advances at an average rate of 66 feet per year, with some months showing little movement.
Coal fires consume up to 200 million tons of coal annually, releasing greenhouse gases, soot particles, and toxic elements. Innovative solutions like heat-resistant grout may help fight these fires and mitigate their impact on climate change and human health.
Satellite images from NASA's MOPITT project show high levels of carbon monoxide in regions prone to pollution, such as Southeast Asia and Australia. These images provide a new tool for monitoring air quality and tracking the spread of pollutants over long distances.
A University of Toronto researcher is studying how the Cherokee people responded to forced removal, with a focus on accommodationist writers and resistant voices. His book aims to acknowledge the history of removal and its impact on Cherokee literature.
Amazon wildfires contribute significantly to atmospheric carbon dioxide, reducing tree-life viability to less than half of unburned areas. Dr Barlow's research found that fires damage large, thicker-barked trees, leading to increased emissions and further loss of vegetation.
The Navy is using immersive simulation training, known as 'visceral reality,' to challenge fresh recruits through realistic and intense scenarios. This new approach aims to better equip sailors to deal with combat situations, providing a more effective training evolution.
Researchers found that invasive ants build shelters for mealybugs, allowing them to feed safely. The mealybugs produce a significant amount of honeydew, providing 32% of the daily energy for fire ant colonies.
Red pine groves in the Boundary Water Canoe Area may vanish due to lack of natural fires. A new model suggests that continued fire suppression would lead to the loss of red pines and other tree species within 300 years.
The FLAMBE project utilizes geostationary satellites to detect and monitor forest fires every half-hour, providing early warnings of haze events. The system also estimates burned areas, smoke fluxes, and radiative impacts, complementing NASA's Terra satellite products for improved global climate understanding.
A recent study by Penn State researchers found that urban forest fires have led to increased tree density of specific species in New York City's undeveloped parklands. In contrast, an old-growth urban forest in Cleveland, Ohio, has remained stable with no history of forest fires since 1935.
The WTC's design had several vulnerabilities that made it susceptible to collapse, including flimsy floor trusses and weak connections in the tube frame system. The impact of the jetliners shattered support columns, causing partial collapse and triggering a fire that exacerbated the damage
UT Southwestern researchers say automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be used by anyone with minimal training, and are becoming increasingly widespread. Studies have shown that early defibrillation can dramatically improve survival rates for cardiac arrest victims.
Research reveals Amazon forest fragments are more susceptible to extinction due to overhunting, increased airborne pollutants, and heightened fire risks. Climate change may further exacerbate these effects, threatening biodiversity in fragmented landscapes.
USGS scientists Jon Keeley and C.J. Fotheringham argue that natural fire regimes in chaparral ecosystems are not characterized by frequent small fires, but rather by landscape-scale crown fires. They suggest that limited, strategically placed burns are more cost-effective than large-scale prescription burning.
Researchers question the efficacy of prescribed burning in reducing large, intense forest fires. They argue that this technique is not suitable for closed-canopy forests and shrublands where natural fires are more frequent and severe. This approach can also have negative ecological consequences.
The NIST report provides the first estimates of sublethal exposures to fire smoke's magnitude and impact on people in the United States. It also evaluates lethal and incapacitation values for smoke and identifies further research needed to improve fire hazard and risk assessment.
Researchers have discovered a fire ant protein linked to its senses of smell and taste, which may help regulate social behavior and structure in colonies. The protein's unique properties could be used as a pest control method by disrupting the ants' sensory signals.
The Terra satellite beams daily images of western U.S. wildfires to NASA, which are then transmitted to the Forest Service. The collaboration uses MODIS data to create Active Fire Maps that help resource allocation decisions and aid in public understanding of fire locations.
Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that fire ant queens can alter the sex ratio of their colonies by limiting female eggs laid. This finding suggests a negotiated middle ground between queens and workers, who have competing interests in raising new colony members.
A study by Penn State researchers found that quaking aspen groves have declined by 30% in the last 50 years due to environmental changes such as fire suppression, livestock grazing, and increased herbivore populations. The unique history of the Lake Tahoe Basin also plays a role in this decline.
The traditional 'ponderosa pine model' of forest fire management is being questioned due to its limitations. Presenters will present data on the ineffectiveness of prescribed burns in California's shrubland areas and boreal forests, highlighting the dominant role of weather and human demographics in fire regimes.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has developed a groundbreaking wildfire forecast for the western United States, using statistical methods to predict fire seasons and fuel availability. The 2001 forecast suggests a much milder wildfire season compared to 2000, which burned over 7 million acres and caused $1.6 billion in damage.
A study published in Preventive Medicine reveals that smoking is a leading cause of fires and death from fires globally, resulting in an estimated cost of nearly $7 billion in the US and $27.2 billion worldwide. Smoking causes 30% of fire deaths in the US and 10% globally.
Penn State graduate student Ray Wakeland will demonstrate the fire organ, a heat-driven instrument producing musical sounds, and the daxophone, a unique sound-producing instrument. He will also showcase the Long String Instrument, a large bronze harp-type string instrument that produces ethereal music.
Scientists will present evidence that global change exacerbates wildfires in the Mediterranean region by increasing air temperature, reducing precipitation, and altering landscape patterns. The study finds that water stress increases plant flammability, making conditions more favorable for wildfires in regions like Valencia, Spain.
A Johns Hopkins study found that fires occur in 17% of commuter and air taxi crashes, resulting in 536 deaths and 744 injuries. The researchers emphasize the need for adoption of latest fire safety technology to minimize risk of fire in these aircraft.