The Most Important Number for the West’s Hideous Fire Season

Well wouldn’t transpiration be a limiting factor to some degree?

Looks like a La Niña winter coming.  Should help WA., OR.

Very interesting article, Doug.

the thing is, the rising temps that create the forest conditions that lead to these super hot fires are what we’re going to be seeing from here on out. and of course the fires themselves release tons of co2,which further exacerbates warming. And these super hot fires wreck soil, so regeneration can’t happen or only very slowly at minimal levels.

Maybe we’ll start to get hurricanes on the west coast. that would be a good development. One climate disaster quenching another. Problem solved! best to do nothing and stop worrying, right?

For those that want to learn more, please check out Daniel Swain’s excellent blog: http://www.weatherwest.com and/or follow him on Twitter.

Another disaster that might unfold sooner than later is all the dead trees from years of drought and bark beetle infestations in many parts of the Sierra. If you ever drive to Road’s End in Kings Canyon NP you will see the thousands of brown dead conifers up and down the hillsides flanking the road as far as the eye can see.

I can’t even imagine how those trees could even be logged or cleared given the sheer number and remote location. Give the orange haired one a rake and put him to work?

Good article, another term to remember

I’ve read that bark beetle killed trees aren’t necessarily more flammable.  Needles on trees are very flammable.  Dead trees drop their needles.

More here about all the dead trees in the Sierra burning now (Creek fire for one) and the potential for future fires.

Los Angeles Times: 150 million dead trees are fueling huge Sierra wildfires