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Hunter Cutting

Early, Severe wildfire conditions develop in Alaska Summer 2010 - 0 views

www.wwfblogs.org/...alaska-wildfires-30may2010

climate change impact Alaska wildfire USA season change

shared by Hunter Cutting on 31 May 10 - Cached
  • Early and Severe Wildfire Situation Develops in Alaska as Fuel Conditions Reach "Historical Maximum Levels" in Some Areas
  • High temperature records are tumbling, wildfires are multiplying and firefighting resources are stretched as Alaskan fire season kicks into high gear earlier than usual.  The conditions are part of an emerging trend: wildfires are serving as agents of change over Alaska's landscape as the state's climate rapidly changes.
  • surface temperatures also are rising over land.  Among the consequences are earlier and more severe wildfire seasons, especially when warmer temperatures are accompanied by lower precipitation levels. The current fire situation in Alaska provides a sobering example of how such changes are stoking wildfires in northern latitudes. 
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • The Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC) reported yesterday: "Low winter snowpack in north-central Alaska, warm spring temperatures, and a lack of precipitation has driven fuel conditions to historical maximum levels in Tok and Fairbanks. Current conditions create the potential for rapid fire spread rates, crown fires, and higher intensity fires. A high pressure weather system centered over Alaska exacerbates the existing conditions." The National Weather Service this morning (30 May 2010) has issued "red flag" warnings for much of Alaska's interior, along with portions of the North Slope of the Alaska Range.  The warnings, which extend to late in the evening on 30 May, mean that "conditions are occurring or will occur which could lead to the development of large and dangerous fires."  See NOAA's Alaska Fire Weather for the latest watches and warnings. The AICC also said yesterday that  the current fire behavior and activity "is uncharacteristic for this time of year and is requiring a significant response statewide from Alaskan, Canadian and Lower-48 resources."  By late evening on 29 May, the last 5 available smokejumpers in Alaska were en route to a fire, emptying the smokejumper base in Fairbanks and bringing the total number of jumpers committed to fires to seventy.  The jumper base reported that none of the committed jumpers could be quickly demobilized from current fires to attack new fires.  With such "initial attack" firefighting resources constrained, fires will have more time to grow in size before firefighters arrive. According to today's Situation Report from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC), there are 85 fires burning in the state.  A total of 193 fires have burned 98,163.3 acres so far this year.  The AICC Morning Highlights today said:  "Alaska is experiencing unprecedented fire activity for May that is more characteristic of extreme July conditions."  It added: "On a scale of 1-5, Alaska has now reached Preparedness Level 4. It means that multiple units are experiencing fire starts and there are several large, staffed fires. The probability of ignition is high, and conditions/ resistance to control are high to extreme, and weather conditions exist that promote fire growth. It also reflects the number of instate and out of state resources committed/required."
  • Hunter Cutting on 31 May 10
     
    WWF Blog post:
Hunter Cutting

Tundra fire near Prudhoe Bay - first in thousands of year - 0 views

www.palmbeachpost.com/...floridas-coastline-423874.html

climate change impact wildfire USA Arctic Alaska

shared by Hunter Cutting on 04 Jun 10 - Cached
  • undra fire burned 1,000 square miles of an area near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, three years ago that showed no prior evidence of burning going back thousands of years. Inuits, indigenous people of the Arctic, "never had a word in their language for thunderstorms," said Bob Corell, of the Arlington, Va.-based Global Environment & Technology Foundation. "And a thunderstorm was most likely to blame for that fire."
Hunter Cutting

Salmon streams warming in Alaska - 0 views

www.adn.com/...ing-climate-change-in-the.html

Salmon Alaska USA climate change impact species streams temperature

shared by Hunter Cutting on 27 Jun 10 - Cached
  • "People ask, 'Are you seeing any effects of climate change?' I would argue yes," said Mauger. "We're warmer now than in the past for water temperature. ... The stress in the watershed is enough it could have an impact on the productivity of the river system."
  • "We're warmer now than in the past for water temperature. ... The stress in the watershed is enough it could have an impact on the productivity of the river system."
  • Almost 50 streams are now being monitored.
  • Hunter Cutting on 27 Jun 10
     
    Anchorage Daily News
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