[Vision2020] Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity

[Sunil Ramalingam]

Looks to me like Pombo is trying to connect fires in primarily brushy areas 
with a timber harvest bill.

Sunil

>From: lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>Reply-To: lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>To: "Ted Moffett" <starbliss at gmail.com>
>CC: Moscow Vision 2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity
>Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:14:02 -0700
>
>Ted
>I don't disagree with most of the information that you presented from 
>"Science" It is just that there were a few other factors involved.
>Roger
>-----Original message-----
>From: "Ted Moffett" starbliss at gmail.com
>Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:13:07 -0700
>To: lfalen lfalen at turbonet.com
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity
>
> > All-
> >
> > A report has been issued that at least one of the recent Southern 
>California
> > fires has been "confirmed" to be arson.
> >
> > Of course this has nothing to do with the validity of the Science 
>magazine
> > article on Western USA forest fires and climate change (note the article
> > avoids making claims about the causes of climate change, but does 
>discuss
> > CO2 sequestration related to forests and forest fires, and greenhouse
> > gases).  Nor does it change the fact that the Southern California fires 
>were
> > exacerbated by record drought (worst in 130 years) and intense Santa 
>Anna
> > winds, with hurricane force gusts.
> >
> > Ted Moffett
> >
> > On 10/25/07, Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Roger et. al.
> > >
> > >
> > > 
>http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Western_US_States_Swelter_Under_Record_Heatwave_999.html
> > >
> > > http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2838.htm
> > >
> > > http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/313/5789/940
> > >
> > > The Southern California area was facing the most extreme drought in 
>130
> > > years.  And had experienced record setting heat waves during 2007.  I
> > > presented the facts.  These factors increased the magnitude of these 
>fires,
> > > do to increased drying of tinder.  Southern California was 
>experiencing well
> > > above normal high temperatures while the fires were burning.
> > >
> > > As to whether the fires in Southern California are arson, none of the
> > > fires yet have been conclusively determined to be arson, as far as I 
>have
> > > determined.  Some already were determined to be accidentally caused by
> > > humans.  Human caused fires happens every fire season, by arson or 
>accident.
> > >
> > >
> > > Another major factor increasing the magnitude of these fires was the
> > > extreme Santa Anna winds...Again, an extreme weather event.  They were
> > > getting hurricane force gusts, upper 70s, 80, 90 mph., creating a blow 
>torch
> > > effect and blowing embers long distances to spread the fire.  To 
>prevent
> > > these conditions from spreading the fire long distances by more 
>clearing of
> > > brush etc. is doubtful.  However, anywhere people have homes with 
>flammable
> > > vegetation nearby, of course this is a risk.  Look at Moscow Mountain.
> > >
> > > The Science magazine article on Western US fire activity presents well
> > > documented data about the earlier arrival of Spring, earlier snow pack 
>melt,
> > > coupled with higher temperatures, increasing the length of fire season 
>and
> > > the magnitude of fires, since 1987, in the Western USA.
> > >
> > > The authors make it quite clear that this increase is not explained by
> > > human land use variables.  Maybe the forests could have been managed 
>better
> > > (more clearing of underbrush) to reduce fire danger, but with earlier 
>start
> > > of Spring, earlier snow pack melt, and higher temperatures, the 
>forests dry
> > > out sooner and more, and this increases the duration of the fire 
>season and
> > > the risk of fires of greater magnitude.
> > >
> > > Ted Moffett
> > >
> > >
> > > On 10/25/07, lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Ted
> > > > Whether published in "Science" or not there are a few things 
>missing. I
> > > > think that 1934 was hoitter than it is now. Wheather it was dryer or 
>not I
> > > > don't know. These fire were predominatly the result of arson. The 
>extent of
> > > > the fires we exacerbated by the dense underbrush that resulltd from
> > > > environmetalist not allowing it to be cleared out.
> > > > Roger
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
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