Re:Koalas ‘Functionally Extinct’ After Australia Fires Destr...
by morelisp on Sunday November 24, 2019 @01:03PM
(#21622091)
A eucalyptus tree is virtually a bomb:
- as with most trees, the wood alone is enough to sustain a long, hot burn
- the oil means it catches considerably easier than most trees
- it's one of the trees that frequently drops dead leaves and branches, and the oil means that fungi growth i.e. decomposition of these is inhibited, so they tend to be surrounded by kindling
- the oil near the top of the tree can actually aerosolize under summer temperatures; when this catches it can create literal firestorms across the canopy
- as with most trees, the wood alone is enough to sustain a long, hot burn
- the oil means it catches considerably easier than most trees
- it's one of the trees that frequently drops dead leaves and branches, and the oil means that fungi growth i.e. decomposition of these is inhibited, so they tend to be surrounded by kindling
- the oil near the top of the tree can actually aerosolize under summer temperatures; when this catches it can create literal firestorms across the canopy