Massive wildfires in Canada are wreaking havoc, surpassing the previous record for smoke emissions in just a few months, according to the EU’s climate monitor. These devastating blazes are expected to continue scorching through forests for weeks, if not months.
The scale of destruction is staggering, with approximately 30 million acres (12 million hectares) already burned this year. To put it into perspective, this area is larger than Cuba or South Korea.
The massive plumes of smoke have engulfed Canada and parts of the United States, affecting over 100 million people. Flights have been disrupted, and outdoor events have been canceled due to the hazardous air quality.
Europe’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has been closely monitoring the fires since May. The carbon emissions from these fires have now surpassed the previous annual record set in 2014.
CAMS Senior Scientist Mark Parrington expressed concern over the continuous increase in fire emissions, stating, “We expect the total to keep rising for several more weeks.”
Wildfires in the Northern Hemisphere typically occur from May to October, peaking in July and August. This year, Canada and Russia have experienced unprecedented fires, with some even reaching the Arctic Circle.
Currently, Canada’s wildfire carbon emissions stand at around 290 megatons, more than double the previous record. This alarming trend is a result of climate change, which has intensified extreme weather events in the region.
