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CAWCR technical report, 53. A case study of the 2007 Kangaroo Island bushfires
In December 2007, dry lightning ignited numerous bush fires on Kangaroo Island. Four of the fires continued to burn for two weeks, consuming over 20% of the islands' vegetation. The unique environment of Kangaroo Island is strongly influenced by the surrounding cold ocean waters, and the local meteorology, topography and vegetation were factors that influenced the evolution of the bushfires. This case study investigates the fire weather and fire behaviour by examination of meteorological observations, archived high-resolution numerical weather prediction models and documented and anecdotal obs ...
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Available online: http://www.cawcr.gov.au/publications/technicalreports/CTR_053.pdf
Published by: Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research ; 2012
In December 2007, dry lightning ignited numerous bush fires on Kangaroo Island. Four of the fires continued to burn for two weeks, consuming over 20% of the islands' vegetation. The unique environment of Kangaroo Island is strongly influenced by the surrounding cold ocean waters, and the local meteorology, topography and vegetation were factors that influenced the evolution of the bushfires. This case study investigates the fire weather and fire behaviour by examination of meteorological observations, archived high-resolution numerical weather prediction models and documented and anecdotal observations of fire behaviour. The discussion covers three main findings. The first is how atmospheric instability enhanced activity of one fire in a convergent sea breeze regime. The operational index currently used for forecasting instability did not account for the low level process; however FireCAPE indicated potential for development of a convection column. The second finding centres on how local internal boundary layer processes impacted spatial and temporal variation in fire weather parameters on a day of near-severe fire danger. The performance of high-resolution numerical weather prediction models in capturing local processes on this day is assessed and subsequent implications for using atmospheric model output as input for fire behaviour simulations are then discussed. The third finding focuses on a fire regime where local fuel and topography, as well as feedback between the fire and atmosphere were seen to impact fire behaviour. However, as the emphasis of fire weather forecasting and fire management in Australia is on the McArthur ratings, not all environmental elements would typically be considered in anticipating the fire’s evolution. This study will describe processes that occurred which are not explicitly captured in current fire prediction procedures. It will also consider how the discrepancies may be critical to firefighter safety and to prescribed burn outcomes.
Collection(s) and Series: CAWCR technical report- No. 53
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free), Hard copyTags: Natural hazards ; Wildfire ; Case/ Case study ; Australia
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Recovery from disaster: resilience, adaptability and perceptions of climate change
NCCARF, 2012Focused on four disaster-impacted communities in Australia - Beechworth, Bendigo, Ingham and Innisfail, this report makes recommendations for emergency management and local government policies. It presents a study that used Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory to analyse individual and, by proxy, community resilience to disasters. The theory provided a comprehensive framework to evaluate the interacting factors that support resilience across different disaster sites and communities. While Bronfenbrenner’s theory has been used extensively, the authors believe that this is the first tim ...
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Available online: https://www.nccarf.edu.au/synthesis/recovery-disaster-resilience-adaptability-an [...]
James Cook University ; National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility
Published by: NCCARF ; 2012Focused on four disaster-impacted communities in Australia - Beechworth, Bendigo, Ingham and Innisfail, this report makes recommendations for emergency management and local government policies. It presents a study that used Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory to analyse individual and, by proxy, community resilience to disasters. The theory provided a comprehensive framework to evaluate the interacting factors that support resilience across different disaster sites and communities. While Bronfenbrenner’s theory has been used extensively, the authors believe that this is the first time it has been used to model disaster resilience.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)ISBN (or other code): 978-1-921609-63-3
Tags: Climate ; Climate change ; Disaster Risk Management (DRM) ; Tropical cyclone ; Drought ; Flood ; Wildfire ; Australia
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Climate early warning system feasibility report: early warning systems and hazard prediction
This research examines the feasibility of creating a global early warning system for climate change, the CLIM-WARN system, which purpose is to provide timely and actionable warnings to institutions, businesses, governments and the general public about the imminence of climate related extreme events. CLIM-WARN focuses on hydrometeorological hazards such as heat waves, droughts, floods and wildfires.
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Available online: http://www.unep.org/science/chief-scientist/Portals/76/docs/EWS_Report_Final_Ver [...]
Published by: UNEP ; 2012
This research examines the feasibility of creating a global early warning system for climate change, the CLIM-WARN system, which purpose is to provide timely and actionable warnings to institutions, businesses, governments and the general public about the imminence of climate related extreme events. CLIM-WARN focuses on hydrometeorological hazards such as heat waves, droughts, floods and wildfires.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Climate ; Climate change ; Early warning systems ; Food Safety ; Tropical cyclone ; Drought ; Flood ; Heat wave ; Wildfire ; Bangladesh ; Barbados ; Germany ; Indonesia ; Japan ; Mozambique ; Panama ; United Republic of Tanzania ; United States of America ; Vanuatu
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Climate change in Eastern Europe: Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine
This publication explores the impacts of climate change on Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. The three countries of Eastern Europe will not be affected as strongly as many other parts of Eurasia, yet they will see more of severe floods and forest fires, decreasing water reserves in the south, and gradual changes in biodiversity, agriculture and food security.
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Available online: http://preventionweb.net/go/29358
Lesya Nikolayeva ; Nickolai Denisov ; Victor Novikov ; Environment and Security Initiative ; Zoï Environment Network
Published by: ZOI Environment Network ; 2012This publication explores the impacts of climate change on Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. The three countries of Eastern Europe will not be affected as strongly as many other parts of Eurasia, yet they will see more of severe floods and forest fires, decreasing water reserves in the south, and gradual changes in biodiversity, agriculture and food security.
Language(s): English, Russian
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Climate ; Climate change ; Climate policies ; Drought ; Flood ; Wildfire ; Belarus ; Republic of Moldova ; Ukraine
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Climate change in the West Balkans
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Available online: http://www.zoinet.org/web/sites/default/files/publications/Climate-change-west-b [...]
Environment and Security Initiative ; United Nations Environment Programme ; Zoï Environment Network
Published by: ENVSEC ; 2012Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)ISBN (or other code): 978-2-940490-06-6
Tags: Natural hazards ; Climate change ; Disaster Risk Management (DRM) ; Food Safety ; Agroclimatology ; Drought ; Flood ; Heat wave ; Wildfire ; Albania ; Bosnia and Herzegovina ; Montenegro ; Serbia ; Republic of North Macedonia ; Eastern Europe
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Disaster risk reduction in school curricula: case studies from thirty countries
Selby David; Kagawa Fumiyo; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); et al. - UNESCO, 2012This publication captures key national experiences in the integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the curriculum, identifying good practice, noting issues addressed or still lacking, and reviewing learning outcomes. The study researched DRR related curriculum development and integration, pedagogy, student assessment, teacher professional development and guidance, learning outcomes and policy development, planning and implementation aspects covering thirty countries.Permalink![]()
Heat waves and climate change
A report about the current scientific understanding of the connection between climate change and the recent increase in extreme temperatures, as reported in peer-reviewed research articles published through May 2012. Issues addressed: (i) heat waves: the details; and (ii) heat waves and wild fires.Permalink![]()
Ecosystem approach to disaster risk reduction
This book is intended to provide an overview of the concept of ecosystem approach to disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), natural resource management and disaster linkages, incorporating Eco-DRR concepts in various phases of disaster management, including post disaster recovery in wide range of human and natural environmental settings. The case studies cover coastal, mountain and urban ecosystems and specific hydro-meteorological risks like floods, forest fire, epidemics and landslides.PermalinkPermalink![]()
On the meteorological and hydrological mechanisms resulting in the 2003 post-fire flood event in Alpine Shire, Victoria
Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal (AMOJ), Vol. 61 No.1. Gallucci j.; Tryhorn L.; Lynch A.; et al. - Australian Bureau of Meteorology, 2011This paper describes an analysis of the factors surrounding a post-fire flooding event that occurred in the Alpine Shire, Victoria, Australia in late February 2003. Flash flooding occurred because of highly localised thunderstorms and was enhanced by the burned landscape. In addition, our analysis of the resulting situation suggests that other contributing factors included the storm cells likely being pulse wet microburst, cell regeneration over the same area, and the steepness of the Buckland River Catchment. The synoptic conditions surrounding the event suggest that the major drivers of the ...Permalink![]()
Atmospheric emissions from vegetation fires in Portugal (1990–2008): estimates, uncertainty analysis, and sensitivity analysis
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP), Vol. 11. N° 3. Rosa I.M.D.; Pereira J.M.C.; Tarantola S. - Copernicus GmbH, 2011Atmospheric emissions from wildfires in Portugal were estimated yearly over the period 1990–2008 using Landsat-based burnt area maps and land cover maps, national forest inventory data, biometric models, and literature review data. Emissions were calculated as the product of area burnt, biomass loading per unit area, combustion factor, and emission factor, using land cover specific values for all variables. Uncertainty associated with each input variable was quantified with a probability density function or a standard deviation value. Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of estimates were perf ...Permalink![]()
Balancing fire risk precautions and income in forest management
Science for Environment Policy, n° 228. EEA, 2011Reducing forest fire risk within a tight budget can be successfully achieved, according to researchers. The study simulated the economic and fire risk effects of five management plans and found that a combination of removing low level trees and selective positioning of woodland produced the most economic and least destructive results.Permalink![]()
الدليل المنزلي = Lebanon disaster guide
UN/ISDR, 2011This disaster preparedness guide provides general information to help general public prepare for natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, land slides, storms, floods and fires. The booklet gives a brief orientation on what to do before, during and after a disaster strikes and identifies useful procedures and emergency tools that can be used in the event of an emergency.Permalink![]()
Weather and Health
This course will help meteorologists and others broaden their understanding of the impacts of weather and climate on public health, including the impacts of heat waves and cold temperatures, winter storms and thunderstorms, flooding, drought, poor air quality, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfire, UV radiation, and others. This course is directed to broadcast meteorologists, in particular, who play a critical role in the community by helping the public to protect against weather-related health threats and by promoting good health. The course also describes the public health communication system, pr ...Permalink![]()
Support for fire management in Africa's protected areas : the contribution of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre = Soutien à la gestion des feux dans les aires protégées d'Afrique: contribution du Centre Commun de Recherche de la Commission Européenne
This document describes a pilot project launched by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre to provide selected European Union supported projects in Africa with information on bush fires in and around protected areas. The information has been provided in either near-real-time for daily management purposes or as end of season syntheses for planning. Three parks in West and Central Africa were monitored for the 2003-2004 dry season. The satellite image acquisition, pre-processing and interpretation required were carried out at the JRC’s Ispra site, and in situ training was given in Afr ...Permalink