PLANET IN PERIL

Science Magazine. In 2017, western Canadian wildfires injected smoke into the stratosphere that was detectable by satellites for more than 8 months. The smoke plume rose from 12 to 23 kilometers within 2 months owing to solar heating of black carbon, extending the lifetime and latitudinal spread. Comparisons of model simulations to the rate of observed lofting indicate that 2% of the smoke mass was black carbon. The observed smoke lifetime in the stratosphere was 40% shorter than calculated with a standard model that does not consider photochemical loss of organic carbon. Photochemistry is represented by using an empirical ozone-organics reaction probability that matches the observed smoke decay. The observed rapid plume rise, latitudinal spread, and photochemical reactions provide new insights into potential global climate impacts from nuclear war.   More here. Smoke-filled skies over San Diego - fall 2007. Photo by Eric Pettigrew.

PEMBINA  INSTITUTE Slave Lake, Alberta, June 2011. The aftermath of the wildfire  that  destroyed one third of the town. Photo by Mrsramsey. Pembina Institute reacts to repeal of Alberta’s Climate Leadership Act. Story here.

George Monbiot   - The Guardian. Ashcroft Reserve wildfire - Look Lake, BC, 2017. Photo by  Shawn Cahill Businesses should be liable for the harm they do. Polly Higgins is pushing to make that happen. Story here.

Daily Kos A painted lady. Things are shaping up for 2019 to be another massive migration year for Painted Lady butterflies.  Story here.

The Guardian Houses burn in the monster "Fort Mac" fire in Alberta, CA. IMAGE CREDITS:  TWITTER, INDIATODAY . I was wilfully deluded until I began covering global warming, says David Wallace-Wells. But extreme heat could transform the planet by 2100.  Story here.

The National Observer California is on the burning edge of climate breakdown. Story here.

Please also read: " Time to Wake up & Smell the Smoke! "

ScienceNews A wildfire on the Ashcroft reserve in B.C, 2017. Shawn Cahill. New prediction tools zero in on how blazes throw embers and make weather that fans the flames. Story here.

The Guardian Sweden worst hit as hot, dry summer sparks unusual number of fires, with at least 11 in the far north. More here.

Canada’s National Observer Ashcroft Reserve wildfire as seen across Loon Lake, BC. July 2017  Photo by Shawn Cahill. With warm weather, a high snowpack and floodwaters rising throughout the province, it may seem like B.C. is set to repeat last year’s weather patterns, which led to a catastrophic summer of fires. But it’s still too early to reliably predict…. More here.

The Science Writers and Communicators of Canada is pleased to announce the winners of this year's book awards for books published in 2017.   The winner in the general audience category  is  Firestorm: How Wildfire Will Shape Our Future by Edward Struzik . A summary. For two months in the spring of 2016, the world watched as wildfire ravaged the Canadian town of Fort McMurray. Firefighters named the fire “the Beast.” It acted like a mythical animal, alive with destructive energy, and they hoped never to see anything like it again. Yet it’s not a stretch to imagine we will all soon live in a world in which fires like the Beast are commonplace. A glance at international headlines shows a remarkable increase in higher temperatures, stronger winds, and drier lands– a trifecta for igniting wildfires like we’ve rarely seen before. This change is particularly noticeable in the northern forests of the United States and Canada. These forests require fire to maintain healthy

Nature The Pacheco fire in New Mexico. 2011. Photo by John Fowler. Historical record points to climate patterns that could prime the region for an intense fire season. Story here.

CBC news California wildfires from the International Space Station.  NASA/Randy Bresnik State's 'new normal' is a fire season 70 days longer than just 15 years ago. Story here.

Inside Climate News Santa Ana winds are whipping up wildfires in Southern California after a devastating season in wine country. Rising temps can make the West dangerously combustible. Story here. USDA photo

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment  “The human symptoms of climate change are unequivocal and potentially irreversible – affecting the health of populations around the world, today. Whilst these effects will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable in society, every community will be affected.” Details here. Wildfires in Portugal.  Wikimedia Commons.

CBC news For every degree the temperature rises, there's a 12 per cent increase in lightning. Story here. Ashcroft Reserve wildfire as seen across Loon Lake, BC.  Shawn Cahill

CBC news Smoke from Alberta fire was so massive the plumes created their own environmental system. Story here. Near "Fort Mac" spring '16. Photo by  DarrenRD

The Western Producer Damage has been reported to farms and ranches on the perimeter of Waterton Lakes National Park as a wildfire continues to burn in southwestern Alberta. Details here.

CBC news Weather forecast calls for high winds on Saturday and Sunday, which is a concern for firefighters. Story here.

theguardian It came without warning, and without equivalent. Now a flash drought is fuelling fires and hurting the lives of those who work the land. Story here.