Another Wildfire Spreading In Southern California

A picture of a firefighter.

Another dangerous wildfire in California. Courtesy of FireRescue.com

Over 1,600 firefighters, seven retardant tankers, and a dozen helicopters are attempting to control a wildfire burning 90 miles east of Los Angeles in the San Jacinto Mountains.

The fire started on Wednesday, August 7, 2013, and spread from 2,000 acres to 25 square miles overnight. It has already destroyed over 26 homes, and if it continues to burn at its current rate, it could impact more than 500 more residences, forcing more than 1,800 people to evacuate the area.

Evacuation orders covered the rural communities of Cabazon, Poppet Flats, Twin Pines, Edna Valley, Vista Grande, and several camping and hiking areas.

Second Time Around

A picture of a California wildfire burning close to wind towers in the San Jacinto Mountains.

California wildfire burning close to wind towers in the San Jacinto Mountains. Courtesy of California Fire News

This is the second major wildfire in the San Jacinto Mountains this summer. A blaze that erupted in mid-July spread over 43 square miles on peaks above Palm Springs, burning seven homes and forcing 6,000 people out of Idyllwild and neighboring towns to evacuate.

This fire, however, is burning in the footprint of the 2006 Esperanza Fire.

California Fires

Most of Southern California’s severe wildfires are caused by Santa Ana winds that spin a clockwise flow of air into the region.

This week’s fire, however, was caused by a counter-clockwise flow over northwest California. The National Weather Service expects that conditions could change next week, but hopefully, the fire will be well contained by then.

 

 

 

 

Earth’s Atmosphere Under Extreme Stress

A picture of a temperature thermometer that says problem, emergency, crisis, disaster.

The Earth and the atmosphere are heating up for multiple reasons, and this is creating a global crisis.

As if the peak of the solar cycle isn’t enough to heat things up on our home planet, an increase in volcanic eruptions and wildfires are now adding to the mix.

Atmospheric heating creates changes in global climate patterns, shifts in the Jet Stream, the relocation of ocean currents, and an increase in earthquakes, volcanoes, violent storms, wildfires, and tsunamis.

Our atmosphere is under extreme stress.

Everything Is Heating Up

The Earth’s external heat is supplied by the Sun, which “drives” the atmospheric winds and the ocean currents. Today, our magnetic field is very weak, and the atmosphere has thinned considerably.

The atmosphere is saturated now with particulate matter, and the Sun keeps getting hotter – EVERYTHING – EVERYWHERE is heating up.

Increase In Volcanic Eruptions

Volcanic eruptions add to global warming in our atmosphere, and like metal on metal, the strange sounds that are heard coming from the hollows of the Earth are molten magma working its way up toward the crust as the planet continues to heat up.

A picture of a volcano erupting.

Volcanic eruptions are increasing worldwide, pumping ash into the atmosphere.

There are many volcanoes on the Earth that we cannot see, and even with all of our fancy technology, we have no clue how many active volcanoes there really are.

We do know that there are over 500 volcanoes currently active around the world, and the following list of active volcanoes are the ones we need to closely watch today because they are puffing smoke and spewing ash into the already stressed atmosphere:

  1. Tara, Batu
  2. Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia
  3. Ulawun, Papua New Guinea
  4. Ubinas, Peru
  5. Tungurahua, Ecuador
  6. Reventador, Ecuador
  7. Shiveluch, Russia
  8. Popocatepeti, Mexico
  9. Kelimutu, Indonesia
  10. Turrialba, Costa Rica
  11. Fuji, Japan
A picture of a forest wildfire.

WIldfires are increasing worldwide, adding smoke and ash into the atmosphere.

Wildfires

The Earth will continue to get hotter for several reasons. The increase in solar activity, an increase in Greenhouse gases, a rise in volcanic activity, and increasing wildfires are all happening at the same time today, and this is warming the planet all the more.

Wildfires add to the volcanic ash already smothering the atmosphere, and a change in the atmosphere, no matter how small a change, has a trickle-down effect all over the globe.

Wildfires that are now burning worldwide:

  1. Norway
  2. Estonia/Latvia
  3. Spain
  4. Colorado USA
  5. California, USA
  6. Alaska, USA
  7. Nevada, USA
  8. Montana, USA

When will things cool down? Don’t hold your breath … not anytime soon.

 

Floods Covering Many US States

A picture of a river flooding a road.

Many US states are under massive river flooding.

Last weekend’s Spring winter-cold-snap has left many US states under water.

On May 6, 2013, flood alerts went out for the following states:

  1. North Carolina
  2. Arkansas
  3. Mississippi
  4. North Dakota
  5. Middle Mississippi Valley

Down On The Mississippi

The Mississippi River is currently flooding about 8,500 acres of farmland in East Carroll Parish’s Bunches Bend, Louisiana, which had a huge levee failure in 2011 that wiped out $10 million in crops. The 2011 breach on the levee’s northern end was fixed, but a gap remains on the southern end where the rising river is now depositing water. When the river reaches 42 feet, everything will be under water. The river is forecast to crest at 43 feet at Vicksburg, Mississipi by May 15.

Rains In California

Rain showers moved across Southern California on Monday, May 6, 2013, bringing much-needed moisture to help douse the remnants of a wildfire that blackened a 44-square-mile burn area in the western Santa Monica Mountains over the weekend.  The showers, heavy at times, marked a complete reversal of conditions that rapidly spread the blaze after it erupted early Thursday near the communities of Camarillo Springs and Thousand Oaks.

The fire threatened 4,000 homes, but only damaged 15 houses as it swept into Point Mugu State Park, where more than 85 percent of the 22-square-mile park burned.

And they say “it never rains in southern California.” Thank goodness it rained today.