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What is fire ecology?
What is fire ecology?
Fire is a natural component of many ecosystems, which includes both living and non-living that interact with one another and with their physical environment. A wild land fire is defined as any fire that is burning in a natural environment. Fire experts know that fire is natural and is an important part of the ecosystem in which it occurs.
The Fire Ecology of California
The Fire Ecology of California
Fire is natural in California. Several factors influence when and where fires will strike, including topography, weather, and fuel buildup. The two most significant factors are low humidity and high winds. In California, the temperature will raise when the low humidity so the easiness of burning will increase accordingly. Winds blowing from the Great Basin toward the ocean (variously called foehn winds, Diablo winds, or Santa Ana winds) tend to occur in autumn and make October the most dangerous month. In Southern California, lower elevation ecosystems burn more frequently. 95% of fires in Southern California are started by people, either on purpose or on accident. The frequent fires have called for a switch from chaparral to grass.
The Benefits of Fire
The Benefits of Fire
Fire in the wildlands does not have to be a villain. They have some benefits such as cleaning forest floor and killing disease. It can help clear the weaker trees and restore health to the forest.
Cleaning Forest Floor
Cleaning Forest Floor
Fire removes low-growing underbrush, cleans the forest floor of debris, opens it up to sunlight, and nourishes the soil. Reducing this competition for nutrients allows established trees to grow stronger and healthier.
Killing disease
Killing disease
More trees die each year from insects infestation and disease than from fire. However fire kills disease and insects and provides variable nutrients that enrich the soil.
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Myungsim N. '19 & Noah D. '21
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