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What caused the Australian bushfires?

Team StoryWeavers|February 28, 2022, 09:14 IST| 23

Australia – the homeland of kangaroos and koalas – is facing a serious national crisis. Since September 2019, major parts of this country have been destroyed by its raging bushfires. Several reports state that over 6.3 million hectares (63,000 sq. km or 15.6 million acres) of the bush, forest, and parks have been destroyed so far, and the fire continues to burn.  

The worst consequences of this raving fire are already visible. It has damaged properties, killed millions of animals and left thousands homeless. Hundreds of people have been evacuated and animal rescue volunteers have been working hard to save as many lives as possible. The raging fire continues to burn recklessly, covering the country with hazardous smoke and turning the sky into a bright orange.

Here’s what you need to know about these bushfires, why it happens and what’s the cause and impact of the ongoing bushfires in Australia.

What are Bushfires?

Bushfires are wildfires that occur in Australian bushes. These bushes include forest, scrubs, woodlands, or even grasslands. They have been an intrinsic part of Australia’s ecosystem for centuries. In fact, many native Australian plants are fire-prone, while several species depend on bushfire to regenerate. The people of Australia had always adopted bushfires as a tool to clear land for agriculture. 

What causes these bushfires?

Bushfires are common in Australia because of its high temperature, hot and dry weather, and prone to drought. Another factor that plays a major role here is global warming. A huge amount of carbon emissions causes these fires to increase in its intensity and frequency. Thus, it becomes difficult to determine its damage intensity and the season of bushfire can prolong its usual time period.

Even though these bushfires are triggered by natural causes such as lightning strikes and climate change, several are fueled by man-made events such as arching from overhead power lines, grinding and welding activities, careless discarding of cigarettes and matches, and sparks from machinery.  

Australian Bushfires 2019 – 2020

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, 2019 was both the hottest and the driest year ever measured in Australia. This combined with the long drought, strong winds and low moisture in the soil kept the fire blazing for months. The delayed south-west monsoon in India (Northern Hemisphere) was another reason for delayed monsoon season in Australia (Southern Hemisphere). The damage intensified with the biggest fire stretches along the eastern and southern coasts of Australia. This includes areas around Sydney and Adelaide.  

What damage do these bushfires cause? 

The impact of these bushfires is huge and scary. Approximately 4,80,000 thousand animals are believed to have perished due to bushfires. That includes Australia’s kangaroos, koalas, and bats. Scientists have warned of the catastrophic extinction of various animals and plants in the coming days. 

The experts predict that the smoke from these bushfires can cause severe health issues for the current resident of Australia in the near future. This natural disaster has disrupted the economy of the country too. Australia has already spent about $2 billion. Currently, major fires are largely burning across the states of Balmoral, Victoria, Melbourne, New South Wales, and South Australia. 

What can be done to stop this damage?

Several measures can be taken to prevent such bushfires. Dried leaves, long grasses can easily catch fire. Hence, they need to be timely trimmed and kept well moist. As a hobby, we can volunteer to take the role of cleaning our neighbourhood, water the plants around our houses and school premises and reduce waste production. 

It takes millions of years of regeneration and evolution for our planet’s biosphere to recover from such drastic changes. Climate change is real and is happening now. It is critical that we take steps to battle climate change. 

What steps are you taking towards a better planet? Tell us in your comments below. 

Like this story? Read similar stories at The Learning Tree.

Also read about the longest day of the year and that happens to be at the peak of summer.

Why do stars twinkle?

 

About the Author


Books are Tanaya Goswami’s first love and cheesecakes come a close second. Talking about movies, music, calligraphy, politics, and Elon Musk will get you listed under the friends’ section of her diary. Ever since moving on from her job as an English lecturer, she spends her time at BYJU’S crafting stories filled with emotion and sprinkled with sarcasm. Outside of work, she’s either learning something new (French, most recently!) or is curled up with a book and a cup of coffee. She firmly believes that discovering what you don’t know is the key to knowledge and is constantly working towards improving herself. Drop in a line at storyweavers@byjus.com if you liked her stories, have something nice to say, or if you have compelling ideas to share!

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Comments



Dhairya Chandak

October 10, 2020

My biggest hope is that man should find another planet with life. Where we will never commit the mistakes we’ve done on earth. There is a good news also, a scientist in Japan have found a way to convert plastic into petroleum


SwastiJain jain

September 25, 2020

IT IS SO SAD FOR THOSE PPL??????????‍???‍???‍???‍???‍♀️??‍♂️ LIVING THERE AND ANIMALS ??????????

AND THE PLANTS ???? THEY ALL ARE BURNING AND DYING ????????


Gaurya Naik

June 4, 2020

So sad ?????!I wish the animals are safe !??????????????????? . Australia is a wonderful
place.??


Kristi

March 26, 2020

OMG ???I feel very much sad ?


Trishan Saha

February 29, 2020

We should always think positively.➕?.


Trishan Saha

February 28, 2020

Man is calling damages by himself.


Pragya khanduri

January 27, 2020

So sad to listen it. praying for innocent animal


Vivawswan pandey

January 23, 2020

I love kangaroos and koalas . But they are reducing because of bushfire . I am praying for animals and plants


Ayush Rajput

January 21, 2020

It am sad to say that because of our mistakes millions of animals have died so we have to take steps and propely water the nearby plants and keep moisture on the forests so fire cannot became large .
Also we can install small water pipes in the forests so in the time of fires we can use them to controll fire and save nature


Dhwaj.M.jain

January 19, 2020

Save trees save animals


Dhwaj.M.jain

January 19, 2020

So we should not cut tree’s and save animals


Niyati

January 18, 2020

Hope all animals and people will be safe in upcoming years!!??


Sarthak Shinde.

January 18, 2020

So sad for those people. They animals,
they animals is lost their life.
☁?☁☁☁☁?☁
????????
????????
I feel so sad
P


Arunima Sinha

January 18, 2020

It’s really sad to know all of this?. Poor animals and plants?.
I hope one day these things will come to an end and our planet will be an amazing place to live in


Kavyashree.v

January 16, 2020

So sad to hear that ??


Prabhansh Patel

January 15, 2020

We can do some things for that animals☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️


Guntas

January 15, 2020

Praying for innocent Animals ?


Alokendra Mandal

January 14, 2020

We hope that one day world’s biggest problem global warming will come to an end.


Aditi

January 14, 2020

I hope everything is all right in Australia It is very sad to hear all this


TISHA

January 12, 2020

SO SAD TO LISTEN THIS ITS REALLY SAD ????FOR PEOPLE AND FOR THE
ANIMALS THERE ???????????AND PLANTS ???


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