770
submitted 1 year ago by Doggy4545@lemmy.world to c/pics@lemmy.world
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] SwingingTheLamp@midwest.social 63 points 1 year ago

Based on my own training in environmental science, I can say that virtually all phenomena in nature have multiple, interacting causes. To synthesize what I've read about the wildfires on Maui, the direct factors were: invasive grass species which have taken over much of the land area after the sugar cane and pineapple plantations shut down decades ago; a flash drought on the island; and high winds from Hurricane Dora. A flash drought means it's hot and dry enough to pull moisture out of the plants and the ground, so the conditions on the island were very, very dry. The dry grasses burn quickly and intensely, and the fire was fanned by 70-80MPH winds from the hurricane passing by in the Pacific Ocean.

Climate change has a role in making flash droughts much more likely, and more intense. It also helps fuel bigger, stronger hurricanes. Thus, a flash drought coinciding with a hurricane is much more likely due to it.

[-] DudePluto@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

Thank you for the detailed explanation!

[-] Leer10@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 year ago

If only I had Lemmy silver to give

this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2023
770 points (99.2% liked)

pics

19676 readers
50 users here now

Rules:

1.. Please mark original photos with [OC] in the title if you're the photographer

2..Pictures containing a politician from any country or planet are prohibited, this is a community voted on rule.

3.. Image must be a photograph, no AI or digital art.

4.. No NSFW/Cosplay/Spam/Trolling images.

5.. Be civil. No racism or bigotry.

Photo of the Week Rule(s):

1.. On Fridays, the most upvoted original, marked [OC], photo posted between Friday and Thursday will be the next week's banner and featured photo.

2.. The weekly photos will be saved for an end of the year run off.

Weeks 2023

Instance-wide rules always apply. https://mastodon.world/about

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS