Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Home
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Music
    • Fashion
    • Books
    • Science
    • Technology
    • Cover Story
    • Contact
      • About
      • Amazon Disclaimer
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Privacy Policy
      • DMCA / Copyrights Disclaimer
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Home»Technology»This Giant Sprinkler System Can Protect Cities From Wildfires
    Technology

    This Giant Sprinkler System Can Protect Cities From Wildfires

    By AdminSeptember 21, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    It is 42 degrees Celsius, there has not been any rain for weeks, and the risk of a wildfire is severe. In this dusty corner of southeastern Spain in August, the grass has turned yellow, and fields of cereals are perishing in the heat after months without rain. Walking along the road, it feels as if your skin is burning in the heat.

    But on the outskirts of Ribarroja, a small town near Valencia, there is an unusual line of defense against a possible blaze. Looming above the trees near the edge of the town is a series of huge green towers that resemble streetlights. They act as mammoth water sprinklers, showering the trees and bamboo plants below with recycled water to reduce the chance of fire. They’re supplied with recycled water from the nearby houses in Ribarroja and neighboring Paterna.

    This is the biggest defense system against wildfires in Europe, consisting of 40 towers that encircle the towns, the largest standing 24 meters tall. Known as the Guardian project, it protects urban areas surrounded by trees or other vegetation from the devastating effects of a wildfire by hydrating the plant life, creating a natural barrier. With climate change increasing the threat of wildfires across the continent, Guardian-style defenses could become a fixture of high-risk parts of Europe in the future.

    Content

    This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

    Watering vegetation can delay the spread of a blaze because plants containing greater amounts of moisture require more of a wildfire’s energy. Other factors affect the spread of a wildfire—wind speed is crucial, for example—but generally the drier the vegetation, the more quickly a fire will consume the landscape.

    “Water eats up some of the energy of a fire,” says Ferrán Dalmau, CEO of forest fire consultancy Medi XXI GSA, which developed the Guardian system. “If a plant is better hydrated, then it will slow down the fire.” But Dalmau warns that the system will not put a fire out. Guardian can slow and help control a blaze, but it doesn’t replace the need for fire services to intervene.

    a green pole

    A Guardian water sprinkler tower.Courtesy of Graham Keeley

    Indeed, hidden among the undergrowth is Guardian’s second line of defense: a series of sensors. These pass information to local fire authorities in real time, 24/7, about the humidity levels of the plants and the resulting fire risk. Based on this information, fire services are put on a higher level of alert if the risk rises. Citizens can also be sent updates on the fire risk via the messaging service Telegram.

    Having shown me the Guardian system in situ, Dalmau then takes me to his office and shows me how, thanks to these sensors, the system can indicate areas that could be affected by a fire, as well as simulating how the fire might evolve. Dalmau shows me a computer graphic of the area we have just walked through. The irrigated area is a brown color, which means it is safer, but around it the rest is bright red—meaning it would be at maximum risk from a blaze. An algorithm calculates the fire risks.

    After a prolonged drought and searing temperatures, 2022 has been the worst year ever for forest fires in Spain. So far this year, 275,000 hectares—roughly four times the area of New York City—have burned, which is more than quadruple the country’s annual average, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes as blazes have raged.

    Read The Full Article Here

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    X Restores Access After Thousands of Users Report X Website and App Not Working

    May 25, 2025

    Best Mirrorless Cameras (2025): Full-Frame, APS-C, and More

    May 24, 2025

    Melania Trump releases an audiobook of her memoir with her “official AI voice” created by ElevenLabs, available exclusively on the ElevenReader app (Todd Spangler/Variety)

    May 23, 2025

    Trump Memecoin Holders Set to Dine With US President, Tron Founder Justin Sun Confirms Attendance 

    May 21, 2025

    My X Account Was Hijacked to Sell a Fake WIRED Memecoin. Then Came the Backlash

    May 12, 2025

    Huawei unveiled its first laptop running HarmonyOS 5, after its Windows license for PCs expired in March 2025; the unnamed laptop uses Huawei's Celia assistant (Coco Feng/South China Morning Post)

    May 9, 2025
    popular posts

    Feist Talks Leaving Arcade Fire Tour in New Interview: “I

    2024 Republican National Convention Descends on Milwaukee: How to Watch

    Investigation: 294+ US crisis pregnancy centers, which try to dissuade

    A Guide to Curly Hair Salons in Montreal

    How Life Unexpected Was The Blueprint For The Fosters

    Watch The Equalizer Online: Season 3 Episode 13

    Should you exercise if you’re sick?

    Categories
    • Books (3,217)
    • Cover Story (2)
    • Events (18)
    • Fashion (2,386)
    • Interviews (43)
    • Movies (2,516)
    • Music (2,794)
    • News (153)
    • Science (4,367)
    • Technology (2,510)
    • Television (3,239)
    • Uncategorized (932)
    Archives
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube Reddit TikTok
    © 2025 Top Buzz Magazine. All rights reserved. All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT