Wildfire Smoke from Canada Reaches Europe, Yet Minimal Impact
European regions experience impact from Canadian wildfire smoke
In recent weeks, wildfires in Canada's forests have been raging with such intensity that the smoke is carried high into the atmosphere and travels great distances, even reaching Europe.
European Union's Earth observation program Copernicus, based in Reading, UK, has confirmed that smoke clouds have made their way across the Atlantic. More smoke clouds are expected to reach Europe in the coming days, causing hazy days and stunning red-orange sunsets. However, significant impacts on air quality at ground level are not expected as the smoke is mainly transported in higher atmospheric layers.
A cloud of smoke crossed the Mediterranean region on May 18 and 19, while a larger one reached northwestern Europe in late May.
Wildfire Details in Canada
The provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have seen significant emissions from wildfires in recent weeks, as extraordinary drought and wind conditions have contributed to the ignition and spread of the fires. Tragically, thousands of people have been evacuated as a precaution.
Global Wildfires
Meanwhile, large wildfires are also burning in southeastern Russia, particularly in the Republic of Buryatia and the Trans-Baikal region east of Lake Baikal. Smoke clouds from the Trans-Baikal region have been moving towards China and northern Japan, while others have reached the high Arctic.
PyroCb Clouds
When wildfires burn with exceptional heat and intensity, they can generate PyroCb (Pyrocumulonimbus) clouds. These clouds lift smoke, ash, and moisture into the atmosphere, allowing powerful jet streams to transport smoke over long distances.
Impact Assessment
The recent Canadian wildfire smoke has led to visually striking atmospheric effects in Europe, such as hazy skies and red-orange sunsets. But the smoke's impact on air quality and weather patterns in Europe has been minimal, mainly affecting the visual appearance rather than causing significant disruption.
Facts & Figures
- Most of the smoke originates from intense wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
- Drought and strong winds in Canada contribute to the spread and intensity of wildfires, increasing the likelihood of long-range smoke transport.
- The smoke is primarily transported in higher atmospheric layers, which significantly reduces its impact on surface-level air quality and public health.
- High concentrations of carbon monoxide have been observed passing over certain urban areas in Europe, although this did not translate into hazardous ground-level air quality for the general population.
The community policy should address the impact of wildfire smoke, like the recent instances from Canada, on air quality and public health, especially when considering vocational training programs dealing with environmental-science and climate-change. With the increasing occurrence of PyroCb clouds from wildfires around the globe, it's essential to heighten the awareness about the potential inclination of these clouds towards scientific disciplines like environmental-science and weather studies.
