Fuel for Fires
In California, the winter of 2016-2017 was unusually wet. The moisture allowed plants to grow very rapidly.
What is the effect?
The moisture allowed plants to grow very rapidly.
Prior to humans, lighting usually started wildfires.
What was the cause?
People's mental and physical health are affected by the fear of fire and the stress of losing a home.
What is the effect?
People's mental and physical health are affected.
The Aral Sea in Central Asia has been rapidly disappearing since the 1960's, because people diverted major rivers for agriculture and industrial use.
What is the effect?
The Aral Sea in Central Asia has been rapidly disappearing since the 1960's.
On April 20, 2010, an explosion took place on an oil rig, called Deepwater Horizon, in the Gulf of Mexico. Within two days the rig had sunk to the ocean floor.
What was the cause?
an explosion
Very hot weather in 2017, especially in the northern part of the state, caused many plants to die and dry up.
What was the effect?
Many plants died and dried up.
Human actions disrupt the natural cycle.
What is the effect?
disruption of the natural cycle
The greatest health risk from wildfires is the air pollution that comes from smoke, ash, and soot.
What is the cause?
wildfires
Up to one quarter of the diverted water was wasted due to poor management and planning.
What was the cause?
poor management and planning
When the rig sunk, crude oil leaked from the underwater oil well.
What was the effect?
Crude oil leaked from the underwater oil well.
Forecasters predicted that 2017 would be a bad year for wildfires in California, because of a wet winter followed by a hot dry summer.
What is the cause?
The cause was a wet winter followed by a hot dry summer.
Global warming due to human activities has caused record high temperatures and stronger winds.
What is the effect?
record high temperatures and stronger winds
Water vapor is harmless, but burning plastic or oil releases toxic gasses.
What is the cause?
burning plastic or oil
As the lake evaporates and shrinks, its salinity increases.
What is the effect?
Its salinity increases.
Oil typically floats on water because it is less dense. During this disaster 10% of that oil sank.
What is the cause?
It is less dense.
In 2017, small wildfires were whipped into raging infernos by high winds.
What was the effect?
Small wildfires were whipped into raging infernos.
Wildfires are now much more likely to burn out of control due to the combination of more fuel, high winds, and rising temperatures.
What is the effect?
Wildfires are now much more likely to burn out of control.
Cells and body systems are damaged by toxic gasses.
What is the effect?
Cells and body systems are damaged.
The concentration of salt is so high, that efforts to reintroduce fish have failed.
What is the cause?
The concentration of salt is so high.
Some oil mixed with natural gas and sea water causing it to become more dense and sink.
What was the cause?
Some oil mixed with natural gas and sea water.
The winds carried burning embers to new areas with fresh fuel.
What is the cause and the effect?
cause: winds
effect: burning embers were carried to new areas with fresh fuel
Humans build homes in high fire risk areas and try to protect their property by preventing the natural cycle of wildfires. As a result, more dead vegetation builds up, providing more fuel for future fires.
What are the causes?
Humans build homes in high fire risk areas and try to protect their property by preventing the natural cycle of wildfires.
Tiny particles, referred to as particulate matter (PM), make people cough and can burn their eyes and nose.
What is the effect?
It makes people cough and their eyes and nose burn.
In 2005 a dam was built, and the North Aral Sea rose more than 3 meters in the first year.
What is the cause?
A dam was built.
Phytoplankton released a sticky substance when exposed to the oil. The substance stuck to algae and other items, causing them to mix with oil and sink.
What is the cause?
Phytoplankton released a sticky substance.