As I hear reports of the fire tearing through Maui, I feel utterly depressed. As a fire scientist, I know the unfolding horror is just the beginning in our warmer world.

As I hear reports of the fire tearing through the Hawaiian island of Maui, I feel utterly depressed.

Maui’s deadly wildfires burn through Lahaina – it’s a reminder of the growing risk to communities that once seemed safe. The Maui fires have been fuelled by strong winds, dry vegetation and low humidity.

Australians must heed the warnings Australia, too, is fast becoming a continent of more uncontrolled fire.

It’s vital that we slash greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible, to stabilise Earth’s climate.

  • indomara@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    Kona side was definitely drier, but not dry enough for a wildfire. I cannot think of one happening during the years we were there, or later while family was still there. Maybe small fires started by dumb kids?

    The islands are indeed all different, but they are all tropical and now seem to be becoming drier. The same is happening here in Queensland Australia.

    The rainfall maps here seem to show all the islands have relatively similar rainfall and patterns, which makes sense.

    http://rainfall.geography.hawaii.edu/assets/images/mean_ann_rf_statemm.jpg

    Here is a site that has been tracking rainfall in Hawaii since records began, and the trend is showing less and less rain.

    http://rainfall.geography.hawaii.edu/rainfall.html

    There are likely a few causes, but the fact that Hawaii has changed in the last 15 years is just that - a fact. Not an opinion.

    You can check their sister sites on climate in Hawaii for more interesting information about these changes.

    • curlygirl@lemmy.world
      2·
      1 year ago

      Kona is on the big island, I’m not sure what you mean? It would surprise me if the big island caught on fire (not caused by lava) but it did not change so much in 20 years that wildfires happen on the east side of the big island. I never said the climate has never changed, I said it did not change as much as he implied. Areas with a lot of rainfall are not catching on fire. I checked your images and they confirm what I’ve been saying about the diversity of the islands. I think it’s wrong to compare them that way, climate change is happening but not like that.

      Btw I decided to ask my partner about this and wildfires in kona and kohala on the big island have been a worry for years, there’s even signs posted.