case study - Alberta wildfire

Question 1

background information on wildfire

Answer 1

• may 2016
• Canada, particularly effects Fort McMurray
• started rural but wind shift caused it to go off predicted path and towards city
• created positive feedback mechanisms as created its own lightning

Question 2

primary impacts of Alberta

Answer 2

Social
- 90,000 people evacuated, entire of Fort McMurray
- no deaths or injuries
- 2400 homes destroyed

Environmental
- 600,000 hectares land burnt

Question 3

secondary impacts of Alberta

Answer 3

Social
- ash washed into water course, contaminated the water supples, for humans and wildlife
- power supplies disrupted
- people displaced

Economic
- $9b damage
- transport and jobs affected
- $1b loss in oil production

Environmental
- boreal forest ecosystem damaged
- ash washed into watercourse after heavy rail, contamination for wildlife
- 500 species lost habitat

Question 4

short term responses

Answer 4

• 90,000 evacuated, population of Fort McMurray
• ground and satellite data used to monitor fire, allowed for warnings
• planes used to evacuate 25,000 workers
• aid given from Canadian armed forces

Question 5

how did it create its own lightning?

Answer 5

smoke clouds rises
cools and condenses into clouds
thunderstorms can develop
causing rain and lightning

lightning is a natural cause of wildfires

Question 6

long term responses

Answer 6

• $50m Canadian dollars in aid from Canadian Red Cross
• prime minister promised long term aid