The current heatwave in the Canary Islands, coupled with existing haze, will be further aggravated today as smoke and ash from the Canadian fires reach the islands. The emissions from the forest fires in Canada have extended to Europe, marking the highest levels recorded in the country in the past 21 years.
According to the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS), the combustion has resulted in the release of approximately 160 megatonnes of carbon emissions. While this episode is not uncommon, it serves as a clear indication of the fire’s intensity.
A prominent Twitter account on climatology, @AGMCan, has highlighted the situation in a thread, providing an explanation for the phenomenon. They state that high-altitude air jets, including the polar jet, encompass the planet’s atmosphere. These jets have swiftly transported aerosol-rich air from west to east.
DANGER OF ASH FROM CANADA FIRES FOR THE CANARIES
The European monitoring system has raised concerns about the “substantial deterioration” in air quality caused by the smoke emanating from the wildfires across North America. This smoke has even crossed the Atlantic, reaching European shores during the second week of June.
The fires, fueled by “unusually dry conditions and high temperatures,” have been impacting various regions of Canada since early May. The affected areas range from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan province, and the Northwest Territories in western Canada to Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. The fires initially started in the west but subsequently spread to the eastern regions.
Furthermore, the plume of smoke has made its way to Europe, impacting air quality in the region. The intensity of the fires in Quebec and Ontario late last week resulted in a significant long-range drift across the North Atlantic, as indicated by global forecasts. This drift led to elevated levels of aerosols and carbon monoxide in Europe between June 26 and June 29.
Copernicus emphasizes that such long-range smoke drift typically occurs at higher altitudes, where atmospheric pollutants linger for an extended period. This phenomenon often manifests as hazy skies and reddish or orange-colored sunsets.
