Hey amigos, have you heard about the wildfires blazing through Chile recently? 🌲🔥 Sadly, these fires claimed the lives of at least 133 people this month, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country's recent history.
So, what's fueling these fierce flames? According to a new report from World Weather Attribution, climate change is playing a big role. As our planet gets hotter and drier, the chances of such devastating wildfires increase. Not cool, right?
Strong winds and scorching temperatures helped the fires spread rapidly around the cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso. The scientists studied conditions like temperature, wind speed, and dryness – measured by something called the Hot Dry Windy Index (HDWI). Sounds fancy, but basically, it's a way to see how fire-friendly the weather is.
Interestingly, they found that neither global warming nor the El Niño phenomenon directly caused the recent spike in these conditions. But here's the catch: with ongoing global warming, things are expected to get worse. 😰
Joyce Kimutai, one of the researchers, said, \"We expect a lot of these fires to happen in the future.\" If the global temperature rises to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the fire-prone weather around Viña del Mar and Valparaíso could become even more intense.
But it's not just the climate to blame. Changes in land use and urban growth have made things worse. Mauricio Santos from the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre pointed out that the expansion of pine and eucalyptus plantations has destroyed natural firebreaks over the decades. Plus, as cities expand into forested areas, the risk to people and homes increases.
So, what can be done? Better warning systems, evacuation plans, and fireproofing methods are a start. It's up to all of us to stay informed and support actions that help protect our communities and our planet. 🌎✨
Stay safe and stay woke, amigos! ✌️
Reference(s):
Chile risks repeat of deadly wildfires because of climate change
cgtn.com
