Bushfire behaviour
Explore the conditions that influence bushfireA fire that burns in grass, bush or woodland and can threate More behaviour.
Research one of the following questions using resources from the list below, as well as other authoritative online or print resources. Provide data and evidence in your responses, and include illustrations where appropriate (e.g. types of terrain/fuel).
- Ignition of bushfiresA fire that burns in grass, bush or woodland and can threate More: What are the main causes of bushfireA fire that burns in grass, bush or woodland and can threate More ignition?
- Climate and seasons: What climate conditions increase bushfireA fire that burns in grass, bush or woodland and can threate More risk?
- Weather and seasons: Which common weather elements contribute to increased fire danger?
- Topography: How does terrain affect the movement of bushfiresA fire that burns in grass, bush or woodland and can threate More?
- Fuel (vegetation): How do the amount and types of fuel influence a bushfireA fire that burns in grass, bush or woodland and can threate More starting and spreading?
Explore how fire impacts on biodiversityThe variety of all life and living processes in the environm More and ecosystemsA collection of interacting living and non-living things. A More.
Many of Australia’s and the ACT’s ecosystemsA collection of interacting living and non-living things. A More have evolved with fire and depend on it to remain healthy. But any benefits of fire are determined by whether the fire regime (the frequency and intensity of fires), is appropriate for an ecosystemA collection of interacting living and non-living things. A More.
To learn more about the role of fire and ecosystemA collection of interacting living and non-living things. A More health, research one example of an ecosystemA collection of interacting living and non-living things. A More type that depends on fire.
Questions
1. What role does fire play in keeping the ecosystemA collection of interacting living and non-living things. A More healthy?
2. What would happen to the ecosystemA collection of interacting living and non-living things. A More if fires did not occur?
3. What would happen to the ecosystemA collection of interacting living and non-living things. A More if fires were too frequent?
If you want to find out more information, you can also research an example of a particular species of plant that depends on fire.
Resources
- ACT Emergency Services Agency: Bushfires
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Bushfires – an integral part of Australia’s environment
- Geoscience Australia: Bushfire
- Australian Academy of Science: Understanding bushfires
- ABC News: ‘Most bushfires in south-eastern Australia caused by humans’
- Bureau of Meteorology
- Sentinel Hotspots