French firefighters face 'pyrocumulonimbus' for first time

Post by energy123 » Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 6:38 AM UTC

dualvariable wrote: post #150

falloon wrote: post #112

Pedantic cloud enjoyer here, the article should name this a pyrocumulus not pyrocumulonimbus - the nimbus part means 'rain-bearing' in meteorology, fire clouds don't rain.

Cumulonimbus has been separated from its etymological roots. It now refers to the physics that can produce deep convection, high clouds, and the formation of an anvil shape (along with lightning, etc). The convection that produces a cumulonimbus rain cloud is present in a pyrocumulonimbus cloud. The word isn't wrong.

Post by andsoitis » Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 6:42 AM UTC

Ma8ee wrote: post #171

kQq9oHeAz6wLLS wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regardless of your view on global warming, what's also vitally important is we don't do proper forest management anymore. We used to thin the trees and clear the underbrush, which drastically reduces flammability and the ability for forest fires to rapidly spread. But that's not seen as "environmentally friendly" these days.

Don't put this on the environmentalists when the simple explanation isn't short term cost effective to do this. If you need to put some big blanket blame, then blame capitalism. If nothing else because it has so far stopped all effective measure to stop the climate crisis.

Post by jcattle » Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 6:45 AM UTC

coldbrewed wrote: post #106

ColdStream wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a good plan to me. Probably a dozen reasons why we cannot that I am unaware of, but from my arm chair it looks good.

The water was likely redirected for agricultural purposes and the farmers won't/can't surrender it on top of drought, if it's anything like the US. Would be real cool if we could make investments like this though.

Post by baxtr » Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 6:50 AM UTC

reco98gg wrote: post #140

Dibby053 wrote: post #57

For context on why this region is burning so easily: the Landes and Médoc are huge, artificial pine forests created in the 19th century under Napoleon III to drain and reclaim what was considered an inhospitable wetland, where shepherds famously walked around on stilts. Pine resin and needle litter makes it exceptionally flammable, and being an uninterrupted monoculture on flat land it lacks natural barriers to stop…

The main reason the forest is burning is global warming. There were 3 punishing heatwaves before the fire, it was just a matter of time. A part of the Fontainebleau forest, much more north, no pine trees, went in smoke earlier. Forests are burning near Madrid. It may make some people feel better to think that it is an isolated, local problem, but unfortunately global warming is the main culprit and we at least need t…

Post by pibaker » Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 6:51 AM UTC

donohoe wrote: post #71

67 comments. One mention of “climate crisis” (appropriate), 3 of “climate credits”. No one here is really discussing “climate change”. Is it denial, or just that we’ve accepted the obvious?