Apocalyptic
We've had a steady streak of smoky sunsets and sunrises in northern Colorado over the past 2 weeks. At this time there are 4 sizable fires burning upwind, and depending on the direction of the prevailing winds their smoke can concentrate in some areas quite densely.
The presence of the fires is viewed by most of us as abnormal, anomalies. Unfortunately we're wrong- this is clearly the new normal- climate change is ongoing, temperatures are increasing, and in much of western North America precipitation is declining. Mix in a bit of lightning (or some yahoo flicking a cigarette out of a car or leaving a camp fire to burn) and fires will burn- they will burn until there's no more fuel or the weather gets wetter. Sadly we only have ourselves to blame, as we are the cause of climate change.
Check out Jeff Mitton's view of the same scene from closer to Boulder: www.flickr.com/photos/jeff_mitton/50244433601
Apocalyptic
We've had a steady streak of smoky sunsets and sunrises in northern Colorado over the past 2 weeks. At this time there are 4 sizable fires burning upwind, and depending on the direction of the prevailing winds their smoke can concentrate in some areas quite densely.
The presence of the fires is viewed by most of us as abnormal, anomalies. Unfortunately we're wrong- this is clearly the new normal- climate change is ongoing, temperatures are increasing, and in much of western North America precipitation is declining. Mix in a bit of lightning (or some yahoo flicking a cigarette out of a car or leaving a camp fire to burn) and fires will burn- they will burn until there's no more fuel or the weather gets wetter. Sadly we only have ourselves to blame, as we are the cause of climate change.
Check out Jeff Mitton's view of the same scene from closer to Boulder: www.flickr.com/photos/jeff_mitton/50244433601