2009 Australian Wildfires

In this handout image, A firefighter of the CFA Strike Teams fights the blaze during the fight to save the township of Taggety from bush fires on February 7, 2009 in Taggety, near Marysville, in Victoria, Australia. Victoria Police have revised the bushfire disaster death toll to 181, the worst in Australia's history. (Photo by Handout/Inset from video) Damages from the wildfires that ravaged large swaths of Australia in the last week are still being calculated, and the damage done to local wildlife is not to be underestimated. While 181 deaths and more than 1,800 lost homes have been attributed to the fires, rescue ... Read Full Story

Scientists are expecting the frequency of wildfires to increase with the warming of the climate in decades to come. This rise in the number of wildfires is also expected to lead to a greater presence of smoke which will in turn adversely affect the quality of air. In a pioneer study, the researchers investigated the implications of climate change on future forest wildfires and as well as on the quality of air in the western region of the United States. Studies prior to this one had sought to investigate the links between the severity of wildfires and climate change in the west and elsewhere. ... Read Full Story

Wikizines are interactive magazines that anyone can create or edit - and this one is called "2009 Australian Wildfires". Here you can find fresh voices and respond in real time. Some members write articles about recent news and trends related to the wikizine's topic, others recount relevant personal stories or share their favorite pictures and video clips. Got an interesting idea or story to share with other members of this wikizine? Well, then put on your journalist's cap and add your own article! Read Full Story