Record Fire Season in the US: It’s a Systems Problem
When God created the world, He did so in a highly organized, highly intentional way. He knew what He was doing and He created a fantastically beautiful, amazingly well organized world. He used systems to organize this world and make it sustainable–our atmospheric system, our hydrospheric system (all the surface water on the planet), our food production system (our soil and its subsystems that together form one system), etc., etc. None of these systems stand alone — they are all tied together into one overarching highly complex system. So, when we see evidence of decline (especially marked decline) in one system, it means that we should expect to find marked decline in all the other systems as well. Everything is tied together.
In 2012, there was a record year for ice melting in the Arctic. Also, the California drought was just beginning. It is important to understand that these two events are linked, because it is increasing warmth in the arctic which is driving incredible ice melt in the Arctic, which in turn drives global atmospheric changes, which currently means that there is massive drought and massive warming in many places in the world, but no more so than the US West Coast and Alaska (well, maybe Siberia is just as bad).
In 2012, the US experienced its worst year of fire damage ever. Until this year. This year we beat the 2012 fire damage record. And of course, the year is not over. The ice loss in the Arctic has been epic, but it is not the record that 2012 set (we will likely beat that record next year — I’ll explain why in a future post). What we have seen is an El Nino year combined with the two massive heat pools off the North American west coast (see this previous post for an explanation). We’ve also seen a progressive drying of the entire west coast of the US throughout the last two years. Add it all together and we are seeing large fires in the US but absolutely epic fires in Oregon and Washington. In fact, the Washington fires are the largest in the history of that state.
What is next for this world? Well, good question. If things go the way they currently appear, then we will likely see increasing amounts of tropical moisture making its way to the Arctic because of the massive heat pools in the central and northeast Pacific. This, in turn, means that we may have a very warm winter in the Arctic (with a record low winter ice extent), with a warm and dry winter in the US west. This may be followed by a warm spring that sees early snow melt in Alaska and accelerated drying in the US west. Summer will likely bring record heat to Alaska and, of course, a return of record fires there as well as in Washington, Oregon and California. With the millions of trees that have died just in California (and that are currently drying into an explosively burnable state), it won’t take much lightning or other ignition sources to get record fires kindled.
So, as massive and tragic as this year’s fires are, we look set to beat them next year if things continue the way they are. Actually, fires are not our biggest fear by a long-shot, because what we may be witnessing first-hand is a total reorganization of our atmospheric system right in front of our eyes. Just the be clear: that can’t be a good thing. And, again, just to be clear: such a thing would certainly qualify as “signs and wonders in the heavens”. I’ll talk about this possible atmospheric reorganization in the next couple days.
So, we’re seeing system disruptions all over the globe and one clear manifestation is record fire in the US (we are also seeing record fire in Siberia). The critical questions, however, are these: What system disruptions are going on that do not yet have a clear manifestation? And how will those system disruptions eventually impact human society? Those are the critical questions.
Scott Christiansen
I wonder how much worst things have to get before Jesus says “Enough”! Yet I am sure Christ is wondering “How much longer must I wait before My children are ready so I can pick them up and take them home?”
Good morning Scott.
There is a piece in today’s WP by Ana Swanso(e)n about the world’s current population’s global distribution, with several fascinating maps are used for illustration. Thought you might find the information of interest and significance on several fronts.
Re: Fires and heat: Our region just recorded its warmest August ever, and now, concern here,is growing over the potential fire hazard posed by the drying vegetation.
A relative living in California’s Sierras just emailed that they are living on edge, concerned about the beautiful, but tinder-dry forest closely surrounding their home. Am praying for them, and asking the Lord’s wisdom as I seek to share His message with them, and with my neighbors.
God bless.
Rus
Rus,
Thanks for the heads up on this – I very much appreciate the referrals you make, since you always find good stuff.
Just this morning I was sitting down with someone from ADRA and going over the global long-term drought projections (a function of shifting rainfall patterns). They were interested in impacts in Africa, Asia, and South America, but it was the impact on America that truly caught and held his attention. The astonishing drying of most of the US by 2030 is a projection that I fervently hope is untrue. If it is true, then the conflagrations in the west this year are just the start.
Scott