Luke Spitzley

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Final Exam 1

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tnCBbBxOHLuZS03HkVKgjxX2EHnH4bagAJTIMZMMUWQ/edit?hl=en&authkey=CJDOsv4L

Posted by Velocaraptor at 8:28 AM

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Firestorms

What is a firestorm...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFnEYQA7Bx8

A firestorm is an uncontrolled burning which burns with such intensity that is creates and sustains in own wind system. It is considered a natural phenomenon created during large bushfires, forest fires, and wildfires. Some examples include Black Saturday bushfires, the Great Pehtigo Fire and the Ash Wednesday fires.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157615800278371/

How does a firestorm happen:

A firestorm is created as the heat of the original fire draws in more and more of the surrounding air. This draft can be quickly increased if a low level jet stream exists over or near the fire. As the updraft mushrooms, strong gusty winds develop around the fire, directed inward which supply the fire with additional air. The turbulence created causes the strong surface inflow winds to change direction erratically. These strong winds are capable of producing small tornado or dust devil like circles called fire whirls. These can also dart around erratically, damage or destroy houses and buildings, and quickly spread the fire to areas outside the central area of the fire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssn2kmNf0ME

Where do fire storms happen...

Firestorms happen inside of an existing fire, so potentially they can happen anywhere. Firestorms are mostly observed in urban areas. It has always been associated with great fires. The Great Fire of Rome, the Great Fire of Chicago and the Great of London are some of the common examples of firestorms. A huge firestorm followed the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. They can be considerable more dangerous when they happen is a forest of eucalytus trees which have oil in them and can create a more intense and combustable fire. Swamps that give off gases can have the same effect. Ultimately they can happen any where there is a fire already.

Variables needed to cause a firestorm...

An original fire with a low jet stream, and gusty winds. The draft of a firestorm draws in greater quantities of oxygen, which significantly increases combustion, thereby also substantially increasing the production of heat. The intense heat of a firestorm manifests largely as radiated heat ignites flammable material at a distance ahead of the fire itself.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wjstream/wjstream.htm

Predicting Firestorms..

Firestorms are generally unpredictable. But there are certain indications, which can warn you against firestorm like reduced visibility, relatively low sound conductivity, troubles in breathing and huge amount of radiated heat followed by leaf pyrolysis.

Impact on environment/people...

Firestorms can burn large area of forest, homes, destroying the forests, the countryside and killing many animals, plants and people in its path. The large winds and inward drafts suction people and movables into the fire, where they are incinerated instantly, while those caught close or under the fire die for lack of available oxygen. The fires produce enormous ash clouds and under the right conditions induce condensation forming fire clouds.

How and when are warnings issued...
Firestorm warnings are not issued as such. The warnings start with conditions that are present that could cause fires. Dry days with no rain, etc. Fire departments give reports on whether conditions are favorable for people to burn that are called burn warnings. Forest fires can also be started by lighting. So the forest fire warnings would be given and if high winds or low jet streams were present this would prove to cause firestorm warnings as well.

http://incendiarygames.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/firestorm2_20636566.jpg

jetstream.dart2.arc.nasa.gov/.../images/Oakland-2.jpg

http://www.mapsofworld.com/referrals/weather/severe-weather-conditions/firestorm.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firestorm

http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Heat+wave+elevates+forest+fire+warnings/3072487/story.html
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=maps+of+area+with+potential+for+forest+fires&oe=&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=area+with+potential+for+forest+fires&hnear=&radius=15000&ll=33.94336,-94.21875&spn=31.478652,64.6875&z=4

http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/rst/Sect3/fpi_july20-27.gif

www.worldclimatereport.com/wp-images/boreal_firestorms/map

Firestorms

Firestorms

Fire Tornado

Forest Fire

Forest Fire

Forest fire with firestorms

Fireman

Fireman

Fireman Fighting Firestorm

Fire storm

Fire storm

Fire Storm

jet stream

jet stream

Low Jet Streams Help promote firestorms

Jet Stream Diagram

Jet Stream Diagram

Diagram of Jet Stream

Firestorm hazard map

Firestorm hazard map

Fire hazard map Europe

US Firestorm Map

US Firestorm Map

US Fire Area Map

Northern Hemis. Map

Northern Hemis. Map

Northern Hemisphere fire areas

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