Introduction

Each year, Australia experiences a bushfire season. But why have scientists, and the public, become so worried about the Australian bushfires, if they are a natural part of weather conditions in the region? 

The Guardian created a compilation of just a few of the news outlets that posted stories about the wildfires.

The 2019-2020 bushfire season has been the most devastating to date, with over 2 million acres of land being burned. Over the past few decades, the annual mean global temperature has steadily increased, reaching its highest number on record as of 2019. While climate change is not the cause of the fires, the consistent warming and drying of Australia has increased the risk of potential wildfires and made bushfire seasons progressively more devastating.

According to the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, the annual mean temperature has been constantly increasing. 2019 was the hottest year on record.

Indian Ocean Dipole

The main culprit of the increasing intensity of Australian wildfires is the Indian Ocean Dipole, a climate phenomenon similar to that of El Nino. A positive Indian Ocean Dipole causes more extreme fluctuations of temperature between the east and west. In the past, unusually strong positive dipoles have caused severe flooding in Eastern Africa and severe droughts in south-east Asia and Australia. On October 7th, 2019, according to the BBC, the Indian Ocean Dipole reached a six-decade record positive peak.

On October 7th, 2019, according to BBC, the Indian Ocean Dipole reached a six-decade record positive peak.

Indian Ocean Dipole Research

In a 2014 study published in Nature, scientists modeled the effects of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions on Indian Ocean Dipoles, using extreme examples of this phenomenon in 1969, 1994, and 1997 (BBC).

Using an “ensemble of climate models”, scientists projected that the prevalence of extreme pIOD events will increase,"from one event every 17.3 years over the twentieth century, to one event every 6.3 years over the twenty-first century" (NCBI PubMed).

It is clear that to prevent extreme fires in Australia, we must do everything possible to cut CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions.

Impacts on the Environment

The effects of these fires are far too devastating to endure again. As of January 2020, according to Science News, an estimated one billion animals have been killed, greatly threatening Australian biodiversity. This number doesn't even include bats, frogs, or invertebrates, which could be dying by the trillions (ScienceNews).

Kangaroos and many other animals are caught in the middle of these fires and have nowhere to go. They are struggling to find shelter and basic necessities such as water and food.

Habitat Loss

In addition to direct animal deaths, the fires are ravaging ecosystems that many organisms rely on. Habitats, such as Kangaroo Island, have turned into completely different landscapes. Kangaroo Island is home to several national parks and has long been regarded as a wildlife refuge.

Satellite images show ares of Kangaroo Island that have been impacted by the bushfires. Almost 50% of all of the island was affected.

At least one [Kangaroo Island Dunnart] has been spotted on a camera trap in recent days, but for a species that numbered at just 500 individuals before the fires, the outlook is grim (ScienceNews).

The Kangaroo Island Dunnart is a critically endangered marsupial that had been restricted to a protected area in attempts to prevent extinction. The species' entire range was engulfed by the flames of the 2019 bushfires.

These extreme changes in habitats displace countless species and drain the land of resources crucial to these animals’ survival. Species that survived the fires are now being forced to repopulate in new climatic conditions, making the regeneration process much harder.

Dramatic aerials of Australia bushfires - watch

Species Specific Trauma

Millions of koalas have died in the fires and many are being taken to hospitals for treatment.

Koalas in particular represent a specific effect of the wildfires on native wildlife. As a result of the destruction of landscapes and resources, many animals are being driven out into the open. The sudden appearance of uncommon animals is disconcerting, as they reflect only a portion of the unknown millions lost to the fires. In the interview linked below, a New South Wales veterinarian recounts her firsthand experiences from dealing with the tragic number of injured animals from the bushfires (NPR).

Farm animals are starving and have nowhere to go. As shown above, the ribs of this cow are visible through the skin.

Farm animals are being uniquely affected as well. The fires have destroyed large amounts of animal feed, leading to a distinct drop in fertility due to a combination of starvation and stress.

The Australian Wildfires' Devastating Impact On Wildlife: The audio above includes an interview with Dr. Gundi Rhoades, a veterinarian in New South Wales. She recounts her experiences dealing with the devastating circumstances of dying wild animals, as a result of the wildfires in Australia.

How You Can Help

When faced with such extreme challenges, it is easy to feel powerless. Here, we have collected numerous ways that YOU can help prevent yet another devastating wildfire season.

Fire fighter saves Koala from area where fires have burned

Donate to local firefighting services

The  Country Fire Authority (CFA),  consisting of unpaid volunteers and firefighters working up to 12 hour shifts, has been at the front lines of the bushfire crisis. Your donations can help them keep the 3.3 million people living in Victoria safe by funding research and fire safety education within local communities.

Donate to the Australian Red Cross

The  Australian Red Cross  has been crucial in the evacuation of community members and the running of relief centers on the ground. With your donation, the Australian Red Cross will continue to provide relief to communities, aid in housing reconstruction, and provide long-term solutions to surrounding communities. The provided link gives a detailed description about how your donation will be used.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Many organizations provide information on the importance of carbon emission reduction. The Footprint Network provides a calculator that, based on your lifestyle, will report how many Earths would be required to support the global population if everyone lived that way. These results can help the user visualize the unsustainability of their own lifestyle. The American Association for the Advancement of Science and the New York Times are two other organizations educating the public on day-to-day sustainability, including additional ways readers can reduce their carbon emissions in easy and simple steps.

Recovery

Bibliography

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“Dramatic Aerials of Australia Bushfires-Watch.” The Telegraph, 21 Dec. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=43&v=oZgs5Y4TKk0&feature=emb_logo.

Dunlop, S. (2008). Indian Ocean Dipole. A Dictionary of Weather, A Dictionary of Weather

“Farmers Impacted by Bushfires Count 'Heartbreaking' Cost as Livestock Losses Climb.” ABC News, 6 Jan. 2020, www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-07/farmers-recount-heartbreaking-toll-of-bushfire-livestock-losses/11844696.

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The Guardian created a compilation of just a few of the news outlets that posted stories about the wildfires.

According to the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, the annual mean temperature has been constantly increasing. 2019 was the hottest year on record.

On October 7th, 2019, according to BBC, the Indian Ocean Dipole reached a six-decade record positive peak.

Kangaroos and many other animals are caught in the middle of these fires and have nowhere to go. They are struggling to find shelter and basic necessities such as water and food.

Satellite images show ares of Kangaroo Island that have been impacted by the bushfires. Almost 50% of all of the island was affected.

The Kangaroo Island Dunnart is a critically endangered marsupial that had been restricted to a protected area in attempts to prevent extinction. The species' entire range was engulfed by the flames of the 2019 bushfires.

Millions of koalas have died in the fires and many are being taken to hospitals for treatment.

Farm animals are starving and have nowhere to go. As shown above, the ribs of this cow are visible through the skin.

Fire fighter saves Koala from area where fires have burned