australian bushfire season 2019-20

• began in june 2019 with several significant uncontrolled fires, continued through the summer, peaked in december and january
• the capital, Canberra, was covered in a blanket of cloud spreading across the pacific
• cause of fires

  • dry and warm spring and early summer - optimal conditions
  • began in queensland, spread southwards
  • summer record heatwave with country average of 40 degrees
• more than 20 % of australias forests burned
• by march 2020

  • 18.6 million hectares of forest destroyed
  • 5900 buildings destroyed
  • 34 dead
• estimated 1 billion animals killed - possible extinction
• cost

  • US $ 70 billion
• NASA estimated 306 million tonnes of co2 emitted
• states of emergency across New South Wales, Victoria and Australian Capital Territory
• reinforcements called from all over australis to assist firefighting and relieve local fire crews in New South Wales
• Australian Defence Force mobilised to provide air support, logistical support and physical assistance
• Kangaroo island

  • 1/3 protected by nature reserves
  • over 1/2 of island was damaged
  • animal corpses had to buried in huge pits
  • concerns of extinction