Published on: December 16, 2024

WILDFIRE IN MALIBU, CALIFORNIA

WILDFIRE IN MALIBU, CALIFORNIA

OVERVIEW OF THE WILDFIRE

  • The wildfire, named the Franklin Fire, began on December 9 in Malibu, California.
  • Extent of Damage:
    • Over 4,000 acres
    • Approximately 22,000 people
  • Officials estimate it will take “a number of days” to fully extinguish the blaze.

CAUSES OF THE FRANKLIN FIRE

  • The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
  • Experts attribute its destructiveness to two major factors:
    • Santa Ana Winds.
    • Climate Change.

SANTA ANA WINDS

  • Definition:
    Santa Ana winds occur when high-pressure systems build over the Great Basin and interact with low-pressure air over California’s coast.
  • Formation:
    • Winds move from the inland deserts (east and north of Southern California) towards the Pacific Ocean.
    • As they descend from mountains, the winds:
      • Compress and heat up.
      • Lose humidity, sometimes dropping to less than 10%.
    • Impact:
      • Dry vegetation due to extremely low moisture levels.
      • Increased risk of wildfires as vegetation becomes highly flammable.
    • Occurrence:
      • Primarily between October and January.
    • Expert Insight:
      • Rose Schoenfeld, meteorologist, explains:
        • Winter weather patterns allow high pressure in the Great Basin to interact with low-pressure air near the Pacific.

ROLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Natural vs. Current Scenario:
    • While Santa Ana winds are natural, climate change has exacerbated wildfire intensity and duration.
  • Evidence of Changes:
    • A 2021 study in Nature Scientific Reports showed:
      • California’s burn season has lengthened over the past two decades.
      • Peak wildfire season has shifted from August to July.
    • A 2023 study in PNAS revealed:
      • 10 of the largest California wildfires occurred in the last 20 years.
      • 5 of these fires occurred in 2020 alone.
    • Impact of Climate Change:
      • Rising global temperatures lead to:
        • Warmer springs and summers.
        • Early snow melts, causing extended dry seasons.
      • Moisture stress on vegetation makes forests more vulnerable to fires.
    • Future Outlook:
      • If greenhouse gas emissions continue, global warming is projected to exceed 3°C by the end of the century.
      • This would significantly worsen wildfire occurrences and their intensity.