The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is an agency of the government that studies the landscape, natural resources, and natural hazards of the US. These categories include information about the water, energy, minerals and natural resources in the US, as well as the health of our environment and the impacts of climate change and land-use change.
With the recent wildfires in California, the USGS is more important than ever. Its technology helps produce science, data, and tools that are critical in making decisions before, after, and during wildfires. On their Wildland Fire Science webpage, the USGS goes into the specifics of their fire research, data, and tools.
In the Fire Science section of this website, the USGS goes into greater detail about large fire forecasts, fuel mapping, and burn mapping. In the large fire forecasting portion, there is a map that uses satellite imagery to show daily fire potential predictions. In the fuel mapping portion, there is a map with over 20 geospatial layers that describes vegetation, disturbance, fuel, and fire arrangements for the United States. Finally, the burn mapping portion describes projects designed for mapping the perimeters and severity of wildfires in the US. Overall, the USGS provides advanced and useful tools for the government and individuals to look at in-depth data about forest fires.
https://www2.usgs.gov/ecosystems/environments/fireecology.html
This website is a great resource for anyone dealing with wildfires, as well as for anyone who just wants to learn more about the causes, effects, and management of fires. It’s accessible and easy to navigate, and it provides contacts, data, and tools for all stages of fire prevention, management, and recovery, giving special attention to areas in which wildfires are common, such as Southern California. The best thing about this website (in my opinion), though, is that it explains how wildfires can effect places/things that people don’t normally think they can effect, such as coastal and tundra ecosystems and watersheds. This is a beneficial feature of this website because it shows that fires/wildfires can effect much more than we originally imagine.
This website is particularly relevant with the recent rise of wildfires in California. It explains the effects of wildfires so that the people in the areas prone to them, and others, can be more aware and prepared. The information provided can also help to prevent wildfires from taking place, which is really important in protecting not only people, but also our environment. These wildfires destroy animals’ habitats and contribute to the rising temperatures of our planet.
This is a really interesting website and its a really useful tool for people to become more aware and prepared in case of a wildfire.
This is a super interesting website and it is crazy that these fires are increasing so much. Love the interactive part of the different things you can learn about. Good job! The wildfires have become a serious issue for California and with climate change could spread to even more areas of the US.