Wildfire and Drought - Honors 175 - FA23

A discrete event in time that disrupts ecosystem structure and changes resources, soil, or the physical environment is the definition of:

• disturbance

• drought

• succession

• diatom

• proxy data

Proxy evidence or proxy data is:

• preserved "clues" about what past climates were like

• useful in determining past climates

• useful in determining past fire history

• All of these describe proxy data.

Of the 2 images displayed, which is likely the map of human-caused wildfire, and why do you think that?

• the map on the left; there are large sections empty in SE Washington and western California where there aren't humans

• the map on the left; the large areas on the west coast (in Washington and California) correspond to areas where there are burn bans in place

• the map on the right; we see fires along the coast (in Washington, Oregon and California), where there typically aren't thunderstorms

• the map on the left; Nevada has hardly any fires which only happens because no people live there

Which of the following is NOT a way disturbances are classified?

• according to their spatial extent

• according to their frequency

• according to their intensity

• according to the date in history on which they occurred

• according to their severity

What 3 things make up the fire triangle?

• fuel, carbon dioxide, heat

• oxygen, fuel, heat

• oxygen, fuel, vegetation

• carbon dioxide, heat, trigger

____ succession is likely to take place after a wildfire.

• Primary

• Preliminary

• Secondary

• Artificial

Which of these is likely to be a pioneer species after a wildfire?

• lodgepole pine tree

• whitetail deer

• gray squirrel

• sugar maple tree

Which of the following is the correct pairing of a fire control with how it controls wildfires?

• Fuel: the more people that live in an area, the less fuel the fire has to burn

• Topography: the side of the mountain facing the sun is less susceptible to dry conditions

• Weather: the wind direction, temperature and humidity will control where the fire moves

• All are correct pairings.

Which of the following is NOT a secondary hazard related to wildfires?

• loss of soil (erosion)

• increased runoff

• hunger

• landslides

• loss of vegetation

How can wildfire hazards be minimized?

• through education campaigns like Smokey the Bear

• through red flag warnings and burn bans

• by reconstructing past fire histories using charcoal data

• through use of prescribed burns to reduce the vegetation in an area

• All of these are viable options for reducing wildfire hazards.