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The largest forest fire in the United States right now – The Bootleg Fire – is as big as Los Angeles and far from under control.
In the massive heat from the fire, new weather systems have emerged – including a lightning storm.
– It is completely in line with what we expect in a warmer climate, says Gunilla Svensson, professor of meteorology.
I USA 70 forest fires are currently raging. The largest of them, the so-called “The Bootleg Fire” in Oregon, continued to spread on Sunday.
An area of 1,210 square kilometers is on fire, writes The Guardian.
The area is as large as the American metropolis of Los Angeles.
When the fire reached such a massive size, the column of smoke and the extreme heat produced their own weather systems. Several heavy clouds have formed. An extreme “firestorm” occurred which is said to have caused strong winds and lightning.
—-The fires that are raging in the area are as big as Los Angeles.
–Photo: John Hendricks / TT NEWS AGENCY–
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Behind them, in the burnt earth, 67 residential buildings have been swallowed by the flames. About 3,100 additional homes are threatened by the fire, according to the latest figures from the authorities, reports OPB.
The large forest fire is not under control. Approximately a quarter of the demarcation lines of the extinguishing operation can be kept.
Heavy winds have caused the fire to continue to spread to new areas.
– We have had day after day with explosive growth of the fire. It has forced us to sometimes withdraw our firefighters, as we have been forced to retreat. Broadly speaking, it is about chasing the fire, it is an exhausting task, says Marcus Kauffman, spokesman for one of the task forces in Oregon that is fighting the flames to OPB.
Escalated climate change?
Following natural disasters around the world in recent days, the question of the climate is being raised. Are we witnessing an escalation of climate change?
– It is completely in line with what we expect in a warmer climate and we have long warned about this from climate research, says Gunilla Svensson, professor of meteorology at Stockholm University.
Gunilla Svensson says that there are two components, natural variations and human impact.
Natural variations in the weather make some years more extreme than others.
– For example, fires in California, where it has always burned.
—-A cloud formed as a result of the heavy fires in Oregon.
–Photo: TT NEWS AGENCY–
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However, it is not possible to get around global warming, where the trend is towards more extreme weather, says Gunilla Svensson. This means that dry regions will become drier with an increased risk of drought and fires. Rainy regions will receive more precipitation with the risk of floods and landslides.
However, diagnosing an individual event as caused by weather variations or climate change is difficult.
– Human activity together with natural variations can have different effects, says Gunilla Svensson.
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