Directions: Hover over each arrow head to observe corresponding event/sphere or sphere/sphere interaction. Click on a sphere to open that sphere's full interaction page. Click on the event to open a page on the event being discussed! At the bottom of each page is a link back to here.

 

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Pictures used with educational permissions from cnn.com, nps.gov, Discovery communications, smokeybear.com, and fs.fed.us. Main graph on this page altered from ESS materials on the UTM website for this course. A > H Ash particles in the air are condensation centers. The heat causes the water to transform from a liquid state to a vapor. L > A Decreased ground cover allows dust and particles to be picked up by winds. A > L Ash particles in the air can fall to the ground miles away from the wildland fire. Large deposits of ash may eventually cement together to form sedimentary rock. B > L About 665 miles of hand-cut fireline and 137 miles of bulldozer lines, including 32 miles in the park, needed some rehabilitation, along with the remnants of fire camps and helicopter-landing spots. Plant roots hold soil in place. A decrease in vegetation can lead to increased erodibility of soil. L > B The burning of the nutrient-rich topsoil increases the nutrient content of the soil. An increase in soil pH results in increased activity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. H > B The wetter winters predicted under global warming could allow the entry of larch, scrub oak and other non-native trees. Ash particles in the water can clog the gills of fish and other aquatic organisms and choke them. B > H Dropping fire retardant on the streams pollutes the water. Plant roots and leaves absorb water, without vegetation to take up water from precipitation, more water will flow directly into streams. This can lead to increased flooding. L > H Increased erodibility of soil may lead to more sediment washing into waterways. High sediment loads in waterways causes the temperature of the water to increase. A > B Smoke contains ash particles, as well as many toxic gases. New vegetation is able to grow. Global warming, which could affect the species composition in the park within decades. E > B Change in resident life forms: the conditions aspen seeds needed: elimination of most of the competing vegetation, creation of large open spaces with plenty of sunshine, and leftover fire ash which helped increase the water-holding capacity of the soil. Existing forage, for livestock and wildlife, is destroyed. Fire quickly decomposes organic matter into its mineral components and the flush of nutrients accelerates plant growth for a few growing seasons. E > H Small fish-kills occurred as a result of heated water. May increase the amount of precipitation in surrounding areas. H > E Precipitation: lack of water caused the soil and vegetation to dry out, making conditions for fires. Record low humidity provided dry matter to ignite wildland fires. B > E People provide heat to ignite wildland fires. B > A Reduced plant life decreases amount of oxygen released into the atmosphere. E > A Release particles into the atmosphere. Trace gases generated by wildland fire contribute to global warming. Resulting wildfire winds can top 120 mph. A > E Dry lightning. Winds pushed fire across more than 150,000 acres. Fire needs oxygen to burn. L > E Fuel moisture, dead plants and dry soils make kindling. E > L Soil charred to an average depth of 2 centimeters. The reduced vegetation can increase erosion, mudslides can occur. The intense heat from wildland fires causes some rocks to break apart into small fragments. Fire-related debris flows make up about 30% of the deposits in alluvial fans that have been accumulating since the Holocene. H > L Increased precipitation as well as water used to put out the fire may wash away loose soil. Acidic precipitation dissolves limestone. H > A Ash from burning plant and animal material can be washed from the atmosphere by precipitation.

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