As the Southwest faces soaring temperatures and dryness, wildfires in California become a two-pronged threat, with a little-known factor called mixing heights contributing to fire intensity.
As California braces for another severe wildfire season, meteorologists are warning that the state is witnessing not one, but two fire seasons with distinct characteristics. While the infamous Santa Ana winds usually trigger the coastal fire season in the fall, inland regions are already battling dangerous and explosive wildfires. This early fire season is driven by a unique combination of fuels, topography, dryness, and heat.
One critical factor in intensifying these inland fires is the little-understood concept of “mixing height.” Mixing height refers to how high a smoke column or plume can rise from a fire. When wildfires have high vertical plumes or convective columns, they act like massive chimneys, drawing in air and creating erratic winds on the ground that fuel extreme fire behavior.
Meteorologists note that hotter temperatures lead to higher mixing heights, which can reach 10,000 to 15,000 feet during a typical heatwave in inland areas, and even higher during major heat events. With California’s recent heatwaves and scorching temperatures, the state is experiencing elevated mixing heights, contributing to the rapid vertical growth of wildfire plumes.
The mixing height is linked to the planetary boundary layer, a portion of the atmosphere influenced by Earth’s surface conditions, such as heating from the sun and wind obstruction from trees and buildings.
During cooler periods, the planetary boundary layer contracts, keeping smoke closer to the ground. However, when the sun’s heat increases during the summer, the boundary layer expands, allowing wildfire smoke to soar thousands of feet into the sky.
Experts emphasize that warming trends attributed to human-caused climate change play a significant role in persistent heat waves. The prolonged high-pressure ridge, known as a “heat dome,” over the Southwest is partly due to changes in the jet stream’s behavior, which steers weather patterns globally.
Even without climate change, Southern California typically experiences hotter temperatures later in the season, and recent dryness has increased the risk of wildfires. As the summer progresses, the potential for high fire activity may further escalate, posing a serious threat to the region.
The findings underscore the need for continued vigilance and preparedness among Californians living in both coastal and inland areas. Understanding the complexities of wildfire behavior, including factors like mixing heights, can assist authorities in predicting and responding to fires more effectively.
As wildfires continue to blaze in the Mojave Desert, experts warn that the Santa Ana winds, known for their devastating effects, are lurking around the corner, further exacerbating the state’s fire woes. With these two fire seasons overlapping, California must brace for more intense, widespread, and challenging firefighting efforts in the months ahead.
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