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Hal Bidlack
As it turns out, there are lots and lots of things that I don’t know about.
It’s a little frustrating for me, since I like to understand things. I’m, well, a nerd. And I’m mildly proud of that, as a thirst for knowledge is a good thing, I think.
One thing I know is that Did KnowAbout was the underground coal fire that has been burning for more than 50 year in Pennsylvania. The mining town that thrived was called Centralia. It is located in central Pennsylvania. However, the fire spread rapidly and caused more problems for the residents. While no one knows how the fire started there is evidence that the abandoned mine used as a trash dump may have been involved. It’s a fascinating story and is well worth your reading about.
This, naturally, leads me to Cortez in Colorado.
One of the many, numerous things that I did NotBefore Reading about it on Colorado Politics, is that our great state can’t be too smug regarding fires such as the one that wrecked Centralia. Colorado is home not to one, but many. 38The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is monitoring active coal mine fires, including one currently burning. InsideCortez, the town mentioned above.
There are rumors that the recent, terrible Marshall fire might have been responsible mightAn old coal mine fire may have triggered the event. You will be able to see why an underground spark could be so powerful if you recall the dry and windy conditions on the day of the fire. I know the anxiety and fear that underground ignitions can cause when I fled my home 10 years ago, as ash fell on it, during the Waldo Canyon Fire.
Denver Gazette reported recently that thousands of Coloradans live within one mile of an active coal-fired fire. Colorado has over 1,000 old coal mines. All fires being monitored date back to 1977.
These fires are impossible to put out. They are literally burning underground, and far beyond the reach firefighters. What, if any, can we do to stop these blazes?
Having spent much of my grad school time, and a large chunk of my time as an active-duty Air Force officer, looking at the implications of climate change on national security, I have a few thoughts…
Unfortunately, it is already too late for climate change mitigation. And ironically, it is the very core prediction of the climate change models that lets some people (cough… Trumpers… cough) claim there really isn’t a climate problem The strongest prediction of climate-change science is that we will see Continue readingExtremes Continue reading often. You may feel that it is okay to dismiss all the liberal nonsense if you are reading this missive at publication date. It was 60 degrees yesterday, and today’s high is 12. Is that all that global warming?
Well, there is a good reason scientists don’t call it “global warming,” but rather climate change. The models predict that there will be hotter spells. This is an interesting winter so far. Wetter wets and drier dry spells will be more common. 2020 was Tie for the warmest on record, and 2021 wasn’t far behind. The global average temperature was at or above 45 degrees for the 45th consecutive year. Average. Polar sea ice is in decline, and tropical storms are becoming more severe and frequent. Wonder when the WarmestWhat were the seven years in record? You lived them, as the last seven years.
The impacts of climate change have very real and important consequences. Although the coal seam fires are not caused by climate change they may be a force multiplier (as some military types like to say). If the Marshall Fire was started from a coal-mine fire it could serve as a symbol of the canary in the coal mine. As our Colorado forests get drier and drier in our ongoing drought, with more winds and, come next summer, likely new high temperatures in the high country, we can only hope that one of those 38 fires doesn’t happen to flare up and ignite yet another blaze.
This just shows how interconnected our world is. The coal fires are a problem for those who are most directly affected. We cannot assume we will be immune to climate change’s relentless assaults on the human world.
Hal Bidlack is a retired professor and Air Force lieutenant colonel. He taught more than 17 year at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs.
