At the beginning of June, smoke from the wildfires reached Norway. Canada is currently experiencing its most severe wildfire season ever recorded. At least 75,000 hectares have already burned across the country, and there are still several months to go before the peak of the wildfire season. After the fires blanketed the east coast of North America, plumes of smoke from the fires have now travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.
On how the smoke has spread and what consequences it might have
Smoke from Canadian wildfires has reached Europe
As reported by the UK Met Office, on 26 June, satellite imagery showed that smoke from the wildfires raging in Canada could be observed across Western Europe. The smog travelled across the Atlantic Ocean via the jet stream – a rapidly flowing current of air in the Earth's atmosphere. The smoke reached Norway at the start of June, and on 26 June, it also arrived in the United Kingdom. Forecasts indicate that for the rest of the week, the smoke will remain in the upper layers of the atmosphere over Europe. Because the smoke enters the atmosphere at high altitudes, it can persist longer and travel vast distances.
Will Canadian wildfire smoke affect air quality in Europe?
Earlier this month, wildfire smoke covered New York in a dangerous orange haze. Residents were advised to stay indoors as much as possible. “It is harmful to people’s health,” warned New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
However, the impact in Europe will not be the same. The smoke will not cause a significant deterioration in air quality for residents, as it will remain in the upper layers of the atmosphere. Nevertheless, it could create some picturesque scenes in our skies. “While the smoke is high up in the atmosphere, it can lead to vibrant sunrises and sunsets over the coming days,” the Met Office wrote on Twitter.
Wildfires in Canada are the most destructive in history to date
In Canada, wildfires continue to rage in several provinces. According to the National Fire Situation Report, 27 new forest fires were recorded on 26 June.
Although air quality in Europe is unaffected, many parts of North America are experiencing hazardous conditions. In the Canadian capital, Ottawa, air quality was classified as a “high-risk threat” over the weekend.
Residents experienced slight relief on 26 June, thanks to stormy weather and changing winds, but the smoke is likely to return by the end of the week. Air quality warnings have also been issued in the US, including in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana.
“We’re seeing more and more of these fires because of climate change,” wrote Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Twitter. “These fires are affecting our daily routines, lives and livelihoods, and our air quality. We’ll continue to work – here at home and with partners around the world – to tackle climate change and to address its impacts.”
Scientists have not confirmed a direct link between the wildfires in Canada this month and climate change, but overall, the climate crisis is creating increasingly favourable conditions for fires.
A 2021 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that the dry, windy, and hot weather conditions that increase the risk of fires will become more frequent in some places, including parts of Atlantic Canada and the US, as climate change intensifies.
https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/06/27/smoke-from-canadas-wildfires-has-reached-europe-will-it-affect-air-quality