As strong winds and torrential rains inundate Australia’s south-eastern coast, new research suggests that high intensity bushfires might not be too far behind, with their dual effects extending damage zones and encroaching on previously low-risk residential areas.
As strong winds and torrential rains inundate Australia’s south-eastern coast, new research suggests that high intensity bushfires might not be too far behind, with their dual effects extending damage zones and encroaching on previously low-risk residential areas.
Conducted by an international research team, including the University of South Australia, the research is the first to examine what happens when cyclones and fires interact.
The study found that when severe weather events occur in close succession (more common due to climate change) they can have major impacts on the environment, with the interactive effect of the two disturbances being larger than that of each individual event combined.
Read More: University of South Australia
Climate change is modifying cyclone and fire regimes worldwide (Photo credit: NASA image - CC BY 2.0)
