For all the recent progress in Earth Observation technologies, wildfires remain a serious problem that poses ever-increasing challenges to our ingenuity. Minimizing their often-dramatic environmental and human impacts will require a smart combination of technology, political decision, and willingness to accept changes in our own individual and collective options as societies. In order to show how fire hazard is threatening many parts of the world on a recurrent basis, details are provided on the recent severe 2013 fire season in Portugal, along with background information on remote sensing of wildfires and related disaster risk management challenges.
Flash floods and debris flows: How to manage nature's runaway freight trains
Originally Published by EarthSky- A powerful earthquake struck Saturday morning (local time) off Japan’s east coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS is placing the magnitude of the quake at 7.3 at this time. No Pacific-wide tsunami warning was issued, but a 3-foot (3-meter) tsunami warning from Japan’s Meteorological Agency includes included a stretch of Japan’s northeastern coast, including the crippled Fukushima nuclear site. Later, Japanese television reported that the tsunami height was smaller, reaching only 1 foot (30 centimeters).
Massive earthquake strikes near Japan
Originally Published by EarthSky- A powerful earthquake struck Saturday morning (local time) off Japan’s east coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS is placing the magnitude of the quake at 7.3 at this time. No Pacific-wide tsunami warning was issued, but a 3-foot (3-meter) tsunami warning from Japan’s Meteorological Agency includes included a stretch of Japan’s northeastern coast, including the crippled Fukushima nuclear site. Later, Japanese television reported that the tsunami height was smaller, reaching only 1 foot (30 centimeters).
Major smog disrupts life in northeast China
Originally Published by EarthSky- Smog and pollution have always been a major issue for China, but several cities in northeast China have been severely disrupted by smog this week. The Chinese city of Harbin was forced to close schools, roads, and businesses on Monday and Tuesday (October 21-22) as smog levels soared. In Harbin and elsewhere in northeast China, the smog level hovered at such an extraordinary high level that it disrupted travel and the daily way of life. Smog levels remained high on Wednesday.
Amplified Fire Occurrences in Response to Drought and Vegetation Stress in the Western Ghats of India
By N. Kodandapani Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, Center for Ecological Sciences, Bangalore, India ABSTRACT There is uncertainty regarding the extent to which drought, fuel availability, and ignition sources contribute to the global fire regime. In 2004, sharply increased fire activity followed a severe drought, highlighting the importance of droughtÛÒfire linkages in the Western Ghats hotspot of biodiversity. The spatial extent … Read More
LANDFIRE 2010 – Updated Data to Support Wildfire and Ecological Management
Data products and tools from the LANDFIRE Program help decision-makers clarify problems and identify possible solutions when managing fires and natural resources. The Program – a joint effort between the U.S .Department of the Interior Office of Wildland Fire, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management, and The Nature Conservancy – provides the only complete geospatial dataset describing vegetation and wildland fuel information for the entire U.S.