- A-Black-Patch-I.mp3
- A-Black-Patch-I.mp4
- A-Black-Patch-Unplugged-Underground-XIII.mp3
- A-Black-Patch-Unplugged-Underground-XIII.mp4
- A-Black-Patch-intro.mp3
[Intro]
What once would have been a black patch
Is now the whole
Makes one “head scratch”
[Instrumental, Electric Guitar Solo]
… asking what’s our goal?
[Verse 1]
1, 2, 3
400% increment
Woe is me
This ain’t no accident
(Chose our destiny)
[Chorus]
What once would have been a black patch
(Is now the whole)
Makes me “head scratch”
(… asking what’s our goal?)
[Bridge]
Who put man in command?!?!
(Save our souls)
Man doesn’t understand
(Role of fools)
[Verse 2]
1, 2, 3
“Don’t look at me”
It can’t be…
No, I won’t see
(Blind and unkind)
[Chorus]
What once would have been a black patch
(Is now the whole)
Makes me “head scratch”
(… asking what’s our goal?)
[Bridge]
Who put man in command?!?!
(Save our souls)
Man doesn’t understand
(Role of fools)
[Chorus]
What once would have been a black patch
(Is now the whole)
Does it make you “head scratch”
(… asking what’s our goal?)
[Outro]
What once would have been a black patch
(Is now the whole)
A SCIENCE NOTE
Wildfires have significantly increased in both intensity and the total acreage burned over the past several decades, driven largely by climate change, land-use practices, and increased human activity. Here’s a summary of the trends:
Increase in Intensity
- Fire Severity:
- Fires are burning hotter and spreading faster, fueled by drier conditions, heatwaves, and increased availability of combustible material.
- The duration of the fire season has expanded, with some regions experiencing fire activity nearly year-round.
- Climate Influence:
- Rising global temperatures have led to more frequent and severe droughts, creating conditions that exacerbate wildfire intensity.
- Studies show that extreme fire weather days have increased by 50% globally over the last four decades.
Increase in Burned Acreage
- Global Trends:
- The average area burned annually has doubled in many regions. For example, in California, the average acreage burned each year increased from 150,000 acres in the 1980s to over 1.2 million acres annually in recent years.
- United States:
- Since the 1970s, the area burned annually in the U.S. has increased by nearly 400%, from about 1.5 million acres to over 7 million acres in recent years.
- Fires in the western U.S. now burn twice as much forested land as they did in the 1980s, with large fires becoming significantly more common.
- Global Perspective:
- Globally, the total area burned has increased, especially in regions like Australia, where the 2019-2020 bushfires consumed over 46 million acres, making it one of the most destructive fire seasons on record.
Underlying Drivers
- Drier Vegetation:
- Prolonged droughts and reduced snowpack in mountainous regions have left vegetation drier and more flammable.
- Urban Expansion:
- Human activities, such as construction near fire-prone areas, have led to more frequent ignition sources (e.g., power lines, campfires, or arson).
- Positive Feedback Loops:
- Fires themselves release vast amounts of CO₂, contributing to climate warming and setting the stage for even more intense future fires.
Projections
- If current trends continue, the area burned annually could increase by another 30-50% by 2050, depending on the pace of climate change mitigation efforts.