The distribution of Autumnal Easterly Wind Spells Favoring Rapid spread of forest wildfires on Mount Carmel, Israel

Abstract

Wildfires became a severeecological and financial problem in Israel during the last few years. A significant increase in the incidence of severe wildfires in natural shrublands and planted forests as arson was observed. On 19–20. 9. 89 a large wildfire ignited as an act of terrorism, devastated large parts of Mt. Carmel forests. Weather conditions during a wildfire have an important role in the determination of the rate of spread of the fire. This depends mainly on the availability of dry matter and the wind speed. Two factors that reach their optimum at the end of the summer in September and October during Sharav episodes. The distribution of easterly wind spells associated with Sharav events is considered. The results show that there is no climatic limitation to a spread of a wildfire of the same order of magnitude as the last one, every year.