Podcast
Questions and Answers
What percentage increase in wildfires occurred in Canada in 2023 compared to 2022?
What percentage increase in wildfires occurred in Canada in 2023 compared to 2022?
- 170 percent (correct)
- 125 percent
- 200 percent
- 150 percent
What is a primary factor contributing to the phenomenon of zombie fires?
What is a primary factor contributing to the phenomenon of zombie fires?
- Organic matter like peat (correct)
- Cool winter temperatures
- High levels of rainfall
- Increased human intervention
How many zombie fires were reported in Alberta during the recent season?
How many zombie fires were reported in Alberta during the recent season?
- 15
- 48
- 55 (correct)
- 93
Why are zombie fires difficult to detect?
Why are zombie fires difficult to detect?
What climatic condition over the past years has contributed to the rise of zombie fires in British Columbia and Alberta?
What climatic condition over the past years has contributed to the rise of zombie fires in British Columbia and Alberta?
How often do zombie fires typically occur each year in British Columbia?
How often do zombie fires typically occur each year in British Columbia?
Which of the following regions is NOT mentioned as prone to zombie fires?
Which of the following regions is NOT mentioned as prone to zombie fires?
What typically extinguishes hidden flames before they can resurface?
What typically extinguishes hidden flames before they can resurface?
Flashcards
Zombie Fires
Zombie Fires
Wildfires that smolder underground for an extended period and reemerge when the weather warms, often several months after they initially started.
Peat
Peat
A type of organic material found in soil, often composed of decayed plant matter, that is highly flammable.
Smoldering
Smoldering
When dry fuels allow wildfires to burn slowly beneath the surface, often in deep layers of organic matter or within large logs.
Snowpack
Snowpack
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Precipitation
Precipitation
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Unseasonal Weather
Unseasonal Weather
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Remote Areas
Remote Areas
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Flameless Fire
Flameless Fire
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Study Notes
2023 Canadian Wildfires: Zombie Fires
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2023 Canadian wildfire season was the worst on record, with over 6,500 blazes scorching over 48 million acres, representing a 170% increase compared to 2022.
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"Zombie" fires, also called "holdover" or "overwintering" fires, are wildfires that seemingly reemerge after winter due to smoldering underground.
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These fires are sustained by organic matter like peat, which remains active underground.
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They can ignite due to lightning or controlled burns (farmers).
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Fires can remain active underground for weeks, months, or even years.
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While zombie fires are common annually in British Columbia and Alberta (typically no more than 15), the 2023 season saw an increase to 93 fires in British Columbia and over 55 in Alberta.
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Reduced precipitation and warmer winter temperatures (over the past three years) in British Columbia and Alberta allowed fires to persist beneath the snowpack.
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Detection of zombie fires is challenging due to remote locations and lack of visible flames; they can spread undetected.
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Firefighters face difficulties with frozen, snow-covered ground.
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Zombie fires are not unique to Canada; Alaska, Northern Europe, and Siberia also experience similar conditions.
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These areas often have thick layers of flammable needles and vegetation.
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