The Conventional Effects of Global Warming
- Melting glaciers
- Severe droughts
- Rising sea levels
- Heat waves
- More pests and disease outbreaks
While global warming is a relatively well known phenomenon, the damage and impact they can cause to our surroundings are still taking us by surprise. Today, even localities traditionally known for humid climate are becoming prone to wildfire risks. And that’s precisely what’s being witnessed in Issaquah, a lively suburb in Seattle located at the base of the Cascade Mountains in Washington.
The scourge of wildfire had always eluded the region which has traditionally been known for heavy downpours, until recently. Experts have now started raising concerns that these and other regions in the Pacific Northwest might be more vulnerable to wildfires than before. Temperatures are rising, humidity levels are dropping sharply and there are prolonged drought spells, all thanks to global warming.
A wildfire in such a place could do more harm than if it occurred in a drier region as residents in Issaquah aren’t used to dealing with these hazards. And, to make things worse, more homes over here are surrounded by dense trees and thick overgrowth. This is typically the case with towns in the region where trees and shrubs spill over into compounds.
The humid weather is the only factor that provides insulation from wildfires. The high moisture in these regions, characterized by short summers and dense vegetation, make even medium intensity fires improbable. Wildfires that wreak havoc over hundreds of thousands of acres of land have rarely occurred.
But global warming is now upsetting this delicate balance. A recent climate assessment stated that the average temperature across the Pacific Northwest over the last century or so has risen by almost two degrees. As a consequence, winters will keep getting warmer and drier while mountain snowpack levels will continue to decrease. And there’s no shortage of fuel for fires in these Pacific Northwest forests. Even the slightest factor, such as a few days without rain, could cause an accident.
It’s hard to determine the trigger point in such circumstances. But experts unanimously agree that there’s no turning back the clock on the effects of global warming.
This year for instance, an extremely dry winter season spurred the onset of wildfire risks in the region three months in advance. And the number of fires is also on the rise, especially in places like Oregon and Western Washington where fire incidents have more than doubled in the last ten years.
Even regions in Oregon that witness more than three months of annual rain have succumbed to some minor fire incidents. Nearly half of the wildfires in Washington last year occurred along its western zone that experiences more moisture.
Moreover, the relatively infrequent fires mean that local residents and establishments lack adequate disaster preparedness. Simultaneously, forest edge development is widespread, especially in the Pacific Northwest in places such as western Washington, northwest Oregon and the settlements along the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
Although this doesn’t specifically increase the risk of wildfires, it still is a matter of concern as forest edge development in the northwest isn’t regulated the way it is in other places such as California.
It becomes harder to handle wildfires once they penetrate residential areas. The fires in California last year destroyed thousands of homes and forced tens of thousands to evacuate.
Experts are already drawing similarities between present day Issaquah and Paradise before 2018’s Camp fire. Both are located in foothills with strong winds to stir the fire and settlements in the midst of thick forests that have only one single road for entry or exit.
And still, wildfire protective measures and the use of less-flammable materials in forest-edge development haven’t been mandated by law. Some measures however are in place, such as preparedness training programs and wild-land fire engines.
Conclusion
Wildfire risks are the latest addition to a long list of hazards caused by global warming that includes prolonged heat waves, frequent droughts and stronger winds and hurricanes. Global warming is a clear and present danger that needs to be dealt with decisively if we are to prevent the current situation from getting out of control.