Coming decades will witness more bushfires in southeast Australia. A new study blames climate change for the deteriorating phenomenon. The number of high risk fire days could increase by up to 60 per cent by 2050, the CSIRO research found. Using daily temperature, rain, humidity, and wind data over the past 30 years, the study assessed fire weather risk. The study had undertaken 17 forest and grassland sites around southeast Australia, before coming to this dreadful conclusion.
To predict increases in high risk days for 2020 and 2050, it used two global warming models. The results would assist bush fire preparedness and response planning. Victoria’s Acting Environment Minister Candy Broad said this in an optimistic tone.
“Even a slight increase in the number of high fire risk days, which turn into bushfires like those we’ve suffered through recently, will dramatically impact upon our fire management resources,” she added.
Via: Sunday Times, The Age