Zombie Wildfires in Canada

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which of the following factors most significantly contributes to the resurgence of zombie wildfires in British Columbia and Alberta?

  • A multi-year drought leading to unusually dry vegetation layers that persist through winter. (correct)
  • Increased frequency of lightning strikes during the spring season.
  • The expansion of agricultural practices involving controlled burns in the affected regions.
  • A decrease in funding for wildfire prevention and early detection programs.

Why is peat particularly significant in the context of zombie wildfires?

  • Peat serves as an insulator, concentrating and reflecting solar radiation to ignite underground fires.
  • Peat enriches the soil with minerals that catalyze combustion and increase the intensity of the flames.
  • Peat is a highly flammable organic matter that can sustain underground fires for extended periods. (correct)
  • Peat's high moisture content prevents the lower layers of soil from freezing, allowing the fires to continue to burn.

What makes the detection and containment of zombie wildfires particularly challenging compared to surface wildfires?

  • Zombie wildfires spread at a much faster rate due to the high oxygen concentration in the soil.
  • Zombie wildfires are harder to detect because they primarily burn underground and often lack visible flames. (correct)
  • Zombie wildfires are typically located in areas with better accessibility, which complicates the deployment of firefighting resources.
  • Zombie wildfires emit significantly more smoke, making them hard to locate due to atmospheric pollution.

Based on the information provided, what is a key characteristic that predisposes certain regions to zombie wildfires?

<p>Prevalence of cool coniferous forests with thick layers of flammable ground vegetation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the phenomenon of zombie fires challenge traditional wildfire management strategies?

<p>Traditional strategies are effective at suppressing surface fires but ineffective against the flameless smoldering that characterizes zombie fires. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential long-term consequence of the increasing prevalence of zombie wildfires on forest ecosystems?

<p>The accelerated conversion of forests into grassland ecosystems due to repeated burning. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Considering the challenges in detecting and extinguishing zombie fires, which emerging technology could significantly improve monitoring efforts?

<p>Advanced satellite technology that can detect thermal anomalies and underground heat signatures. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How might climate change be exacerbating the risk and intensity of zombie wildfires beyond just drought conditions?

<p>By causing warmer winter temperatures and reduced snowpack, allowing fires to smolder longer underground. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of wildfire management, what does the increasing prevalence of zombie fires suggest about the effectiveness of current prevention and suppression strategies?

<p>That current strategies are adequate for managing surface fires but need adaptation to address the unique challenges posed by subsurface fires. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Considering the ecological impact, what is the potential consequence of zombie wildfires on carbon sequestration in affected regions?

<p>Reduced carbon sequestration due to the destruction of vegetation and release of stored carbon from peat and soil. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Zombie Fires

Wildfires that were not fully extinguished and smolder under the snow, reigniting in warmer weather.

Peat

Organic matter that is highly flammable and sustains zombie fires underground.

Zombie Fire Surge

The amount of zombie fires raging in British Columbia and Alberta.

Zombie Fire Habitats

Cool coniferous forests with thick layers of needles and vegetation.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Holdover Fires

Wildfires that remain active underground and resurface in spring.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Three-Year Drought Effect

A condition caused by less snow, warmer temperatures, and lower precipitation, leading to ongoing fires.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Smoldering Wildfires

Wildfires that smolder in deep duff layers and large logs, remaining active underground.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Zombie Fire Detection

Difficult to detect due to remoteness, flameless nature and snow cover.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Study Notes

  • Wildfires in Canada led to the worst season on record in 2023.
  • Over 6,500 fires burned more than 48 million acres of forest, a 170% increase over 2022.
  • Many fires were not fully extinguished and continued to smolder under the snow.

Zombie Fires

  • "Zombie" fires are holdover or overwintering fires that seem to come back from the dead.
  • Flames burn underground for weeks, months, or even years, sustained by organic matter like peat.
  • They re-emerge due to lightning or controlled burns.
  • "When these fuels are exceptionally dry, wildfires smolder in deep duff layers and within large logs, remaining active underground with the potential to resurface come spring,” states Canada’s Wildfire Service.

Frequency

  • Zombie fires occur annually in British Columbia and Alberta, typically no more than 15 each year.
  • There has been a surge this year, with 93 active zombie fires in British Columbia and over 55 in Alberta.
  • Lower precipitation and warmer winter temperatures have allowed the fires to continue simmering.

Detection

  • Difficult to detect due to remote locations and flameless nature.
  • Frozen, snow-covered ground hampers firefighters' efforts.

Locations Prone to Zombie Fires

  • Not unique to Canada; also occur in Alaska, Northern Europe, and Siberia.
  • Common in cool coniferous forests with thick layers of needles and vegetation.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser