{ "type": "article-standard", "settings": {}, "author": "Simon Blackburn", "blog_id": "", "body_html": "", "created_at": "13.10.2023", "content": "<h4 style="margin-top: 0px !important;">Himac explores what you need to know about the El Niño Southern Oscillation (Enso) climate pattern and the result it will have on Australia's approaching bushfire season.</h4> <p>Let's delve into what El Niño actually is besides being known as 'hot and dryʼ.</p> <p>It is the warm phase of a natural cycle known as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (Enso), which is one of the key drivers that affect the global climate.</p> <p>It occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become warmer than average, causing a shift in atmospheric circulation.</p> <p>The result of an El Nino is the lessening of atmospheric moisture and heavy rainfall over the north of Australia, which shifts to the central and eastern parts of the Pacific.</p> <h4>How will El Niño impact us?</h4> <p>El Nino has been predicted to cause an increased risk of a heatwave, drought, bushfires and coral bleaching throughout Australia. The strength of its impact will be dependent upon how powerful the phenomenon is and whereabouts it forms in the Pacific.</p> <p>Due to the forecasted reduced rainfall and hotter-than-average temperatures, the risk of a significant bushfire danger season is much higher after an El Nino year.</p> <p>These factors make it essential for communities, particularly in fire-prone regions, to be prepared and vigilant during El Nino events, as they often correspond with heightened bushfire risks.</p> <p>It has been warned that communities prepare for what may be the most prolific bushfire season since the 2019-2020 black summer fires.</p> <h4>How to reduce fire danger and bushfire risks?</h4> <p>As mentioned previously, this weather phenomenon known for its warmer and drier conditions can be lethal. Although, there are things you can put in place to reduce the severity of the impact of El Niño conditions.</p> <p>Here are a number of ways you can prepare for El Niño's impact:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Create a defensible space</strong> - reduce the chances of fire spreading to your property by clearing vegetation which creates a buffer zone around your home, land or structures.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Maintain lawns and vegetation</strong> - regularly trim branches, remove different dead vegetation types to prevent them from becoming fuel for fires, and keep grass in large areas well-maintained and watered.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Stock up on adequate firefighting equipment</strong> - maintain a well-equipped firefighting kit, including hoses, water pumps, shovels and buckets for immediate use in case of a fire.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Install firebreaks and spark arresters</strong> - create firebreaks that can slow down or stop the spread of a fire. Use spark arresters on chimneys and stovepipes to prevent sparks from escaping and igniting nearby vegetation.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Develop an emergency plan</strong> - develop a comprehensive fire evacuation plan and ensure everyone living on the property is aware of it, as well as prepare an emergency kit with essential supplies, a first aid kit, relevant emergency services contact information and important documents.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Stay informed and follow regulations</strong> - comply with local regulations regarding fire safety, land management and burning permits while monitoring local conditions.</p> </li> </ul> <h5 class="hr-2">Sources</h5> <p><a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/updates/articles/a008-el-nino-and-australia.shtml">http://www.bom.gov.au</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/6125/bushfires-in-australia/#topicOverview">https://www.statista.com</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/19/what-is-el-nino-weather-pattern-climate-event-australia-bushfires-temperature-summer#:~:text=is%20farther%20east.-,Will%20El%20Ni%C3%B1o%20make%20bushfires%20worse%3F,year%2C%20according%20%20to%20the%20BoM.">https://www.theguardian.com</a></p>", "excerpt": "<div class="page" title="Page 2" data-mce-fragment="1"> <div class="section" data-mce-fragment="1"> <div class="layoutArea" data-mce-fragment="1"> <div class="column" data-mce-fragment="1"> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><span data-mce-fragment="1">Himac explores the El Niño climate pattern in relation to the dangers of bushfire season and recommends fire mitigation methods to keep yourself and your assets safe. </span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div>", "excerpt_or_content": "<div class="page" title="Page 2" data-mce-fragment="1"> <div class="section" data-mce-fragment="1"> <div class="layoutArea" data-mce-fragment="1"> <div class="column" data-mce-fragment="1"> <p data-mce-fragment="1"><span data-mce-fragment="1">Himac explores the El Niño climate pattern in relation to the dangers of bushfire season and recommends fire mitigation methods to keep yourself and your assets safe. </span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div>", "handle": "the-himac-herald/what-is-el-nino", "id": "560357408950", "image": { "alt": "southern oscillation index, equatorial pacific ocean, positive indian ocean dipole, enso events", "src": "//himac.com.au/cdn/shop/articles/himac-attachments-blog-what-is-el-nino_1x1.jpg?v=1697164801" }, "published_at": "13.10.2023", "summary_html": "", "tags": [], "template_suffix": "", "title": "What is El Niño?", "updated_at": "2023-11-02 11:50:53 +0800", "user_id": "", "next_article": "", "previous_article": "" }