Alaska is burning

[n2doc]

This image of Alaska was captured by the MODIS on the Terra satellite on May 30, 2010. The stark white cloud cover is mixed in with more diffuse gray smoke from fires in the region. Each active fire is marked by a red dot.

According to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center in Fairbanks, an unusually dry winter and spring have already resulted in 293 wildfires burning some 463,000 acres this year. In fact, the fire activity in May was unprecedented and more typical of extreme July conditions. Most of the fires are caused by lightning.

bigger versions at link

http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2010-06-07

edited to add working link...

[havocmom]

1. We fear a very bad fire season in Montana this summer too.

Lots of ground fuel, lots of trees dead or dying from pine beetle infestation, snow pack not as good as it could be in the mountains.

And, of course, a lot of our Guard in @$#@(#!@ Iraq instead of here, where it is supposed to help with large emergencies, like fires. :grr:

[Catshrink]

2. We're also anticipating a bad season in Arizona also

The usual stuff + new dangers posed by the legalization of fireworks by our dipshit unelected uneducated governor. Can't say she wasn't warned: the firefighters came out strongly against the bill but the neolibertarians loved it, saying they wanted to get big brother off their backs. I say give 'em a shovel and let them go fight the fires when they start.

[thereismore]

3. There is no global warming because it snowed in New Jersey last winter. nt

[nebenaube]

5. "ignorance is bliss" carry on! n/t

[Gman]

4. Some models are predicting a return of La Nina later this year

which would bring more rain to the Pacific NW up to Alaska. Won't help much now, but there could be some relief coming.

[RobertSeattle]

6. Bizarre - we've had a vert wet spring in Washington

So our burn season will probably be later in the summer.

[havocmom]

8. Same in Montana which is why there is so much ground fuel

People forget Montana is not just granite mountains and pine trees. Lots of rolling prairie, and the grass gets dry in summer. The taller the grass (from spring rains) the more fuel for prairie fires.

Beetle damaged trees, which WA has also, tend not to suck up any of that nice spring moisture. Those dead/dying trees can make for hot fires that can even take out well hydrated trees.

I used to love thunderstorms. Now, I just tense up, hoping for no lightening started fires.

[damntexdem]

7. Hmm, baked Alaska.

Well-done Wasilla?

Fairbanks fritters?

Can Putin see the smoke from his front porch?

[n2doc]

9. kick n/t