Quote:
Originally Posted by motion
That "super" fire comprises a tiny speck of land within the state of CO. We have a 200,000+ acre fire burning in eastern MT. Still, a tiny speck. I don't think the end of the world is nigh just yet.
|
No, not the end of the world but many forest ecosystems in the US are already being changed into some thing else. Much of Colorado is being deforested for example.
The quote is from a scientist at NCAR. He points out that hotter summers, warmer winter (which are not cold enough to inhibit pine beetles and other pests), and increased aridity all mean that such Super Fires will become more common.
The problem is made worse for the 300 or so people who lost their homes. Many of them should not have been living away from towns to begin with, and failed to clear brush, small trees, and wood piles off their land, but that may no longer be enough.
Here is some reading for you:
Waldo Canyon is latest super fire; get used to them, expert says - latimes.com