| Abstract: | Examining the relationship of El Nin??o to weather patterns in Alaska shows wide climate variances that depend on the teleconnection between the tropics and the northern latitudes. However, the weather patterns exhibited in Alaska during and just after moderate to strong El Nin??o episodes are generally consistent: above normal temperature and precipitation along the Alaskan coast, and above normal temperature and below normal precipitation in the interior, especially through the winter. The warm, dry conditions in the Alaskan interior increase summer wildfire potential. Statistics on the area burned since 1940 show that 15 out of 17 of the biggest fire years occurred during a moderate to strong El Nin??o episode. These 15 years account for nearly 63% of the total area burned over the last 58 years. Evidence points to increased dry thunderstorms and associated lightning activity during an El Nin??o episode; the percentage of total area burned by lightning caused fires during five episodes increased from a normal of less than 40% to a high of about 96%. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70023388 |
| Citation Author: | Hess, J. C.; Scott, C. A.; Hufford, G. L.; Fleming, M. D. |
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| Citation End Page: | 13 |
| Citation Issue: | 1 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | International Journal of Wildland Fire |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 13 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | El Nin??o and its impact on fire weather conditions in Alaska; 2001; Article; Journal; International Journal of Wildland Fire; Hess, J. C.; Scott, C. A.; Hufford, G. L.; Fleming, M. D. |
| Citation Start Page: | 1 |
| Citation Volume: | 10 |
| Citation Year: | 2001 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | El Nin??o and its impact on fire weather conditions in Alaska; 2001; Article; Journal; International Journal of Wildland Fire; Hess, J. C.; Scott, C. A.; Hufford, G. L.; Fleming, M. D. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WF01007 |
| Date Other: | Mon, 1 Jan 2001 00:00 -0600 |
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