A dangerous mix of conditions has contributed to the level of destruction caused by fires being particularly high in the state of Hawaii, including high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.
Scientists also point to the contribution of climate change to the greater likelihood of meteorological events, such as those on the island of Maui, which killed dozens and destroyed a historic town.
“It leads to these unpredictable or unexpected combinations that we’re seeing now and fuels this extreme fire.”said Kelsey Copes-Gerbitz, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia’s College of Forestry.
“What these (…) catastrophic fires reveal is that no one is immune to the problem”he stressed.
According to meteorologists, large differences in atmospheric pressure cause strong winds, which occur infrequently, which fuel the destructive flames.
The weather in Hawaii has these winds. They result from the movement of air from the high-pressure system north of Hawaii — known as the North Pacific Rim — to the low-pressure area in Ecuador, south of the state.
But Hurricane Dora, which moved south of the islands this week, is exacerbating the low-pressure system and widening the difference in atmospheric pressure, causing “rare high winds,” said Genki Kino, a meteorologist with the Service. US Weather, posted in Honolulu.
Pao-Shin Chu, a climatologist for the state of Hawaii, said he was taken aback by the impact Dora has at a distance of 500 miles.
“Hurricane Dora is a long way from Hawaii, but we have fires here. We didn’t expect this.”he said.
Strong winds, combined with low humidity and abundant dry vegetation that burns easily, can increase the fire hazard, even on a tropical island like Maui.
“When these conditions all occur at the same time, it’s what the weather service calls ‘red alert conditions'”said Erica Fleishman, director of the Institute for Climate Change Research at Oregon State University.
Fleishman added that “Climate change in many parts of the world is increasing vegetation dryness, largely because temperatures are warmer”.
He added that “even if you have the same amount of precipitation, if there are higher temperatures things dry faster”.
Clay Trauernicht, a fire scientist at the University of Hawaii, said the rainy season can cause invasive species, such as guinea pigs, to grow up to 6 inches a day and reach heights of 10 feet. When dry, it represents an authentic powder box ready to burn.
“These grasses accumulate fuel very quickly”said Trauernicht, who added: “Hotter, drier conditions with variable rainfall only exacerbate the problem.”
Climate change not only increases the risk of fire by raising temperatures, but also by increasing the strength of hurricanes. Then these hurricanes can bring strong winds like those behind the Maui fires.
“There is an increasing trend in the intensity of hurricanes worldwide, in part because warmer air holds more water.”Fleishman said. “Plus, sea levels are rising globally, so you tend to get more severe flooding from a hurricane when it hits land.”
While climate change cannot be said to cause unique events, scientists emphasize that the impact climate extremes have on communities is undeniable.
“This kind of climate change-related disaster is really beyond what we’re used to.”, Copes-Gerbitz admitted. “These kinds of challenges, multiple and interrelated, can really lead to disaster,” he concluded.
Source: DN
