Heavy smoke from the intense wildfires in Canada has reached northwestern Europe, according to a statement released today by the European Union’s climate monitoring service.
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The vast plumes, detected at very high altitudes, do not pose an immediate health risk, the service confirmed. As the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) stated, “Smoke originating from the wildfires in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan has been transported across the Atlantic.”
Satellites began tracking the smoke in mid-May, with some plumes stretching as far east as Greece and into the eastern Mediterranean. In the coming days, additional plumes are expected to cast a veil over the continent.
Wildfire smoke comprises various gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, along with water vapor and particle pollution, all of which can pose health risks.
A significant concentration of carbon monoxide is anticipated to pass over northwestern France, including the Paris Basin, on Tuesday. While the high-altitude smoke is not expected to significantly affect surface air quality, it may result in hazy skies and beautifully tinted reddish-orange sunsets.
Manitoba is facing its worst start to the fire season in years due to drought conditions, while Saskatchewan recently declared a state of emergency, prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents. As Mark Parrington, scientific director at CAMS noted, “Central regions of Canada have experienced a very intense few weeks in terms of wildfire emissions.”
Looking ahead, Canadian authorities expect this summer to witness a more intense fire season than usual, particularly in central and western Canada, driven by severe drought conditions.
Additionally, extensive forest fires have been active in Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District since early April, especially east of Lake Baikal, generating approximately 35 million tons of carbon emissions, as reported by Copernicus.
It’s clear that the impact of wildfires is both local and global, affecting air quality and climate far beyond the regions directly impacted.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
