Question

o compunere despre incendiile din Australia in engleza​

Answer 1

As of September 2019, at least 25 people have died and thousands have been left homeless.

Here is a brief summary of the events:

Where are the fires?

Every state and territory in Australia has experienced fires this summer, but the most devastating are burning along the stretches of the east and south coasts, where most of the population is. This includes the areas around Sydney and Adelaide.

How big are the fires in Australia?

More than 6.3 million hectares (63,000 square kilometers) have burned so far.

To provide another perspective, approximately 800,000 acres caught fire in 2018 in California.

How did the fires in Australia start?

In Australia, fires have always occurred in wild areas of land where they are difficult to control and sometimes spread rapidly, a phenomenon known as the fire season. This year has been much worse.

Fires are usually caused by lightning strikes or, accidentally, by a spark, but some fires are started deliberately.

Sydney was covered in dense smoke caused by bushfires outside the city. (c) Getty Images

Are Australian fires caused by climate change?

This year, a natural meteorological phenomenon, known as the Indian Ocean Dipole, brought a hot and dry heat wave across the country.

Scientific data show that rising CO2 levels are heating up the planet. So Australia has had warmer weather in recent decades and is expected to continue to do so.

This year, Australia set a new temperature record: 41.9 ℃ were recorded on December 18; but also a record for the longest period of drought.

Scientists have long warned that this warmer, drier climate will contribute to more and more frequent and intense fires. Extreme weather conditions and higher temperatures increase the risk of fires and allow them to spread faster.

How do people fight fire?

Firefighters use water and other fire-retardant solutions to extinguish fires using airplanes and helicopters, but ground equipment is also used.

However, fighting these types of fires is extremely difficult and, in most cases, the authorities need to focus only on stopping the spread and less on extinguishing the fire.

The spread may, for example, be limited by digging ditches to stop the flame from advancing. The priority is saving lives.

Who's fighting fires?

Professional firefighters are the first to fight the flames, but with them are thousands of volunteers. Three of them died.

There is also aid coming from abroad: the USA, Canada and New Zealand have sent firefighters to help.

The Australian police, army and navy are involved in rescue and evacuation efforts.

How many animals died in the fires?

While people can flee the fires and are evacuated, if necessary, the flames devastate the fauna in the affected areas.

One study estimated that half a billion animals died in New South Wales alone.

However, fires do not only kill animals directly, but also destroy the habitat, leaving survivors vulnerable, even after the fires have disappeared. So the true scale of losses is not yet clear. Experts have estimated losses of over 100,000 cows and sheep, which is devastating for farmers.

What is the government doing?

Each state conducts its own emergency operation, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised better funding for firefighters, paid volunteers, and an additional two billion Australian dollars ($ 1.4 billion) for recovery.

The national government has been heavily criticized by its opponents for not taking enough action against climate change.

The country is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases per capita in the world, but through international agreements, it has committed itself to achieving these emissions reduction targets.

Mr Morrison has repeatedly defended his government's position.

SUCCES!!