Weather not only causes tornados, thunder, lightning, and painful sunburns, it can also create “the perfect storm” for fires, especially the recent fires.
“The weather conditions associated with the ‘storm’ were perfect to spark the fires, and keep them going,” said earth science professor John Menzies. “Honestly, this (was) near perfect conditions almost to make these fires as bad as possible.”
According to Menzies, it was “the perfect storm” for possible arson in the recent fires.
“I know there was some speculation with respect to it being arson,” said Menzies. “I’m thinking if it was arson, it was probably by somebody who knew the climatic conditions. They probably knew that, given those conditions, if they started the fires now that we would be in real trouble. It is a horrible crime if indeed it was arson.”
The Santa Ana winds concurrent with these fires did not help out.
According to Menzies, the Santa Ana winds are sparked by a high-pressure system over the basin area, which is around the Utah area, and a low-pressure system over the coast of California.
Because the nature of air is to “equalize and spread itself out,” the high-pressure system alleviates some of its pressure by moving toward the coast where there is lower pressure, said Menzies. This pattern of moving from high to low pressure is called a pressure gradient force, which creates the Santa Ana winds in the fall season.
“So, what you have is winds, which are basically moving toward the coast at this time of year, which are very hot and very dry,” said Menzies, “and the moisture content of the air is very low, which again is going to prevent us litigating the fires.”
However, the fires are contained now.
Besides the firefighters, which are the biggest explanations for the containment, the recent weather has helped firefighters out.
“Recently, we’ve had slightly cooler weather and slightly higher humidity near the coast,” said Menzies, “and obviously that is going to help out in litigating the fire.”
Many people witnessed this “slightly cooler weather” and humidity on Oct. 29 when rain and dime-sized hail stormed Bakersfield.
Though residents at risk must still be aware of the smoke that has transcended from these fires, Bakersfield residents only have to endure a little more pollution.
According to Menzies, “Already we have extremely dirty air. You can practically chew the air here in Bakersfield. The only thing the smoke could potentially do here is make the air a little bit dirtier.”
However, another effect of the smoke can actually be quite beautiful.
“Sometimes you see at dusk is a red sky. What that is, is red light, which is scattering off of the smoke and the dust particles in the atmosphere,” said Menzies. “So, extra smoke can produce somewhat of a red or spectacular kind of sunset. That’s the red scattering off of the pollution, basically, that is in our atmosphere.”