Just an aside, I love Kim Stanley Robinson's books, but I've got some chops in the international world he sets The Ministry for the Future in, and Robinson is deep into a hopium addiction. There is no way that world will unfold. It just won't. The far better piece of fiction is Juice, by Tim Winton.
Looking at weather records far ahead of human influence it was highly variable and fires were a natural activity… So the only way to live there is to ensure a strong adaption plan.. sadly not put in place.
Matt, thanks for your attention to the fires we’re having in Southern California. There is just one misconception a lot of folks have about our fires that I’d like to clear up. It’s true that we got lots of rain last year, but the brush around Los Angeles, the coastal sage scrub and chaparral, are slow growing. A year with lots of rain won’t make that much difference in the amount of brush.
Additionally, the science indicates that when it comes to to these fires, the biggest factors are the length of the drought, in this case eight months without significant rainfall, and the Santa Ana winds, which can reach 100 mph. The amount of brush to burn is less important.
Just an aside, I love Kim Stanley Robinson's books, but I've got some chops in the international world he sets The Ministry for the Future in, and Robinson is deep into a hopium addiction. There is no way that world will unfold. It just won't. The far better piece of fiction is Juice, by Tim Winton.
Not forgotten. Not for a second.
Looking at weather records far ahead of human influence it was highly variable and fires were a natural activity… So the only way to live there is to ensure a strong adaption plan.. sadly not put in place.
Matt, thanks for your attention to the fires we’re having in Southern California. There is just one misconception a lot of folks have about our fires that I’d like to clear up. It’s true that we got lots of rain last year, but the brush around Los Angeles, the coastal sage scrub and chaparral, are slow growing. A year with lots of rain won’t make that much difference in the amount of brush.
Additionally, the science indicates that when it comes to to these fires, the biggest factors are the length of the drought, in this case eight months without significant rainfall, and the Santa Ana winds, which can reach 100 mph. The amount of brush to burn is less important.
Excellent post. And you are quite right about the opening scene from "The Ministry of the Future." It's only a matter of time.