抑制野火的凝胶喷雾

Large forest fires are a serious problem in the United States. Ten million acres per year are burned. In countermeasures, the US government invests $2 billion. However, measures to extinguish wildfires are insufficient. But what if the outbreak itself could be suppressed? A research team at Stanford University has developed a fire protection gel for this.

Until now, measures have been taken to spray gel-type inhibitors in areas with high wildfire risk. But the effect was temporary. This is because the material disappears immediately due to rain or heat. Since the inhibitory effect is said to be about an hour, it is almost meaningless to counter the forces of nature. There were also voices of concern over the fact that some of the inhibitory materials contained harmful substances.

Researchers at Stanford University published a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that the newly developed cellulose-based inhibitory gel could last for the remaining months of vegetation throughout the season. It explains that the ingredients used are harmless substances that are already used in foods, drugs, and cosmetics, so you can feel safe.

According to the research team’s calculation, the newly developed gel spray can achieve the same effect in 20,000 gallons, compared to 1 million gallons of the existing inhibitory spray. Moreover, it does not require any new investment because the existing agricultural spray equipment can be used as it is.

In connection with the California Forest Fire Department, trial use has begun in areas with high risk of wildfire, and there are reports that the effect has already continued as much as 0.5 inches of rainfall. Of course, further testing is needed in the future to determine adoption across California. In recent years, the risk of wildfires in North America is expected to increase due to climate change, so it can be said that measures incorporating such technologies are essential. Related information can be found here .