Australia is better prepared for bushfires now than before Black Summer, but firefighters say there's still more work to do
1 year, 3 months ago

Australia is better prepared for bushfires now than before Black Summer, but firefighters say there's still more work to do

ABC  

For the first time in three years, Australians face the risk of significant bushfires. "We're much better prepared than we were prior to the Black Summer," Dr Cope says. The royal commission recommended Australia invest in things called "downscaled climate models" — models that provide projections for areas down to just a few kilometres. "It was a royal commission put on by the prime minister and the government of the day, and then they didn't take responsibility for the bulk of the of the recommendations." The federal government says it will work with states and territories to implement the royal commission's recommendations.

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History of this topic

Black Summer biodiversity study suggests rethink of prescribed burns and fire management in Australia
1 month, 1 week ago

Black Summer biodiversity study suggests rethink of prescribed burns and fire management in Australia

ABC  

How often and where prescribed burning takes place needs a rethink if Australia's plants and animals are to be preserved, according to a study of biodiversity loss due to the Black Summer fires. Dr Fontaine said the new study suggested a greater need to consider biodiversity risk when planning prescribed burns, but should also be validated in areas other than …

Warnings over increased bushfire risk as Australia records warmest August on record
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Warnings over increased bushfire risk as Australia records warmest August on record

ABC  

As chaotic weather wreaks havoc across Tasmania and Victoria, there are warnings over a heightened threat of bushfires in the coming months in other parts of the country. Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory face an increased risk of bushfires this spring after "unusually high" maximum temperatures were recorded around the country. The official seasonal bushfire outlook shows …

Black Summer bushfires not a 'record first', analysis of 2,000-year Antarctic ice core history finds
6 months, 1 week ago

Black Summer bushfires not a 'record first', analysis of 2,000-year Antarctic ice core history finds

ABC  

The threat of catastrophic bushfires in Australia has been "severely underestimated", climate scientists have warned. By analysing sea salt concentrations in an Antarctic ice core drilled decades ago, scientists have reconstructed bushfire weather patterns in south-east Australia dating back to 2,000 years ago. By drilling into an ice core at Law Dome and measuring levels of sea salt found in …

Bureau of Meteorology and AFAC summer outlook looks hot across all corners of Australia, with heightened fire risk
1 year ago

Bureau of Meteorology and AFAC summer outlook looks hot across all corners of Australia, with heightened fire risk

ABC  

Australia is not off the hook for hot summer temperatures and a heightened bushfire risk, despite heavy rain currently falling across the east. Key points: Large parts of Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory have an "increased risk of fire" this summer AFAC says the recent rains are welcome, but unlikely to undo the damage of a dry …

Australian Authorities Warn Citizens of Horrific Bushfire Season
1 year, 2 months ago

Australian Authorities Warn Citizens of Horrific Bushfire Season

News 18  

Warm winds fanned multiple blazes on Wednesday in an unusually early start to Australia’s annual fire season, prompting a state leader to warn of a “horror” summer of bushfires ahead. “Be prepared for a horror summer,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told a news conference in Bega. “Bushfires love this environment and it is devastating for regional communities in …

Another Black Summer for Australia? Residents told to Flee Victoria Bushfires
1 year, 2 months ago

Another Black Summer for Australia? Residents told to Flee Victoria Bushfires

News 18  

Firefighters warned people on Tuesday to flee or take shelter if it is too late to leave as warm, gusty winds fanned “very challenging” bushfires in Victoria, eastern Australia. People who had not yet left from another seven neighbourhoods were told to take shelter immediately because “it is too late to leave the area safely”. “We are experiencing spot fires …

Australia, scarred by bushfires, on high alert for dangerous summer
1 year, 3 months ago

Australia, scarred by bushfires, on high alert for dangerous summer

The Hindu  

Four years since bushfires destroyed wide swathes of southeastern Australia, killing 33, the country is once again on high alert, bracing for what weather experts say will be the hottest, driest period since the so-called Black Summer. "Once we've actually dried out the landscape from the wet conditions it's starting from, it could be that we end up with a …

Bureau of Meteorology formally declares El Niño weather event, as hot and dry conditions sweep south-east Australia — as it happened
1 year, 3 months ago

Bureau of Meteorology formally declares El Niño weather event, as hot and dry conditions sweep south-east Australia — as it happened

ABC  

Professor Delene Weber is an environmental scientist and bushfire researcher at the University of South Australia. "We can take time to make sure our Bushfire Survival Plans are up to date, and that everyone in the house is aware of the plan and knows what they can do if they are together or alone in the home if an incident …

Spring 2023: Meteorologists warn high temperatures and low rainfall will increase risk of bushfires
1 year, 3 months ago

Spring 2023: Meteorologists warn high temperatures and low rainfall will increase risk of bushfires

Daily Mail  

This spring is set to be dangerously dry and warm with meteorologists urging homeowners to start preparing for bushfires now. Weatherzone meteorologist Corine Brown said two differing weather events, a positive Indian Ocean Dipole affecting Australia's west and a largely-negative southern oscillation index affecting the east, will drive the drier weather. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned this spring will …

'Catastrophic' bushfire warning has thousands of Australians on alert this spring
1 year, 3 months ago

'Catastrophic' bushfire warning has thousands of Australians on alert this spring

Daily Mail  

Residents in southern Queensland are being warned to brace for catastrophic bushfire conditions for the first time in almost three years. On Monday, residents of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt regions, which includes Toowoomba and Warwick, will face the highest fire threat rating. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services chief superintendent Tony Johnstone said the catastrophic rating meant fires could …

Large parts of Australia put on high alert for significant bushfires in spring
1 year, 4 months ago

Large parts of Australia put on high alert for significant bushfires in spring

ABC  

A worrying recipe of increased vegetation combined with warm, dry weather has prompted emergency authorities to put large swathes of the country on high alert for bushfires this spring. Key points: A dry, warm spring is forecast for most of Australia High bushfire risk has been highlighted for large parts of most states and territories Years of heavy rain have …

Why a repeat of Black Summer is unlikely this fire season despite El Niño warnings
1 year, 4 months ago

Why a repeat of Black Summer is unlikely this fire season despite El Niño warnings

ABC  

Recent wildfires across the Mediterranean coupled with warnings of El Niño and Earth's hottest month on record have raised questions about what's ahead for Australia's bushfire season. After three years of La Niña rains suppressed bushfire activity, it's highly probable this spring and summer will be the most active fire season in four years. There are five major factors that …

Australian bushfires may have helped trigger La Nina
1 year, 7 months ago

Australian bushfires may have helped trigger La Nina

The Hindu  

Australia's "Black Summer" bushfire catastrophe coughed up so much smoke it may have fuelled the global onset of La Nina in 2020, according to new research published Thursday. The "Black Summer" bushfires raged across Australia's eastern seaboard from late 2019 to early 2020, razing swathes of forest, killing millions of animals, and blanketing cities in noxious smoke. A rare "triple-dip" …

Australia’s east faces ‘worst heatwave in two years’ as bushfires continue to rage
1 year, 9 months ago

Australia’s east faces ‘worst heatwave in two years’ as bushfires continue to rage

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Bushfires continue to burn across New South Wales as Sydney and some other parts of …

Bushfires that burn more than a million hectares increasing due to climate change, CSIRO finds
3 years ago

Bushfires that burn more than a million hectares increasing due to climate change, CSIRO finds

ABC  

Climate change is increasing the frequency of megafires in Australia and putting entire ecosystems at risk, new research by the CSIRO has found. Key points: The frequency of megafires, in which over 1 million hectares of forests were burnt, increased suddenly after 2000 The worst fire seasons typically follow a La Niña weather phenomenon, which Australia is currently experiencing The …

Australian Forests Could Take a Long Time to Recover from 'Black Summer' Bushfires: Study
3 years, 11 months ago

Australian Forests Could Take a Long Time to Recover from 'Black Summer' Bushfires: Study

News 18  

A new study published on Thursday revealed “massive concerns” about the long-term recovery of Australian forests from the devastating 2019-20 “Black Summer” bushfires. The study, which was published by Australian National University and Griffith University, warned that early signs of recovery from the fires could be deceiving, reports Xinhua news agency. “It’s wonderful to see the green growth back in …

Australia faces more fires, drought as climate continues to heat
4 years, 1 month ago

Australia faces more fires, drought as climate continues to heat

Al Jazeera  

Country’s weather bureau says higher temperatures and less rainfall creating conditions for more extreme weather events. Australia’s climate is expected become hotter and drier, increasing the risk of drought and extreme weather events such as the bushfires that devastated swathes of southeastern Australia in the last southern hemisphere summer, according to the latest climate report from the country’s weather bureau. …

Australia wildfires probe recommends climate risk forecasts
4 years, 1 month ago

Australia wildfires probe recommends climate risk forecasts

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — An investigation into Australia’s catastrophic wildfire season on Friday recommended greater efforts to forecast the impacts of climate change on specific parts of the country, warning fire behavior was becoming more extreme. Discrepancies between states’ fire hazard mapping methods “make it difficult to measure risk at a national scale or to undertake comparative risk between regions.” “Improving …

Californian fires are mirroring Australia's Black Summer, experts say, driven by record drought and heat
4 years, 3 months ago

Californian fires are mirroring Australia's Black Summer, experts say, driven by record drought and heat

ABC  

Ken Pimlott once commanded a firefighting army. Key points: Record drought and heat are driving fires in the United States and Australia US firefighters are handling dozens of fires, but historically their most destructive fires are in October "Total war on fire" has been lost, one fire scientist says But even he concedes that this mighty force is being overwhelmed …

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