Unusually early and unusually violent – according to a report by the EU Atmosphere Service Copernicus there were an unusually large number of forest fires in the northern hemisphere in spring – and thus particularly high emission values.
The northern hemisphere was exceptionally hard hit by wildfires this spring. This was announced by the EU Atmosphere Service CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service). Record issuance was recorded in several regions.
Accordingly, the fires began very early this year – for example in Spain. “Since March 23, CAMS scientists have been able to record significant fire activity in different regions of Spain,” it said. According to the report, Valencia was particularly affected.
Emission values last so high in 2012
As a result, Spain recorded record levels of emissions in May, previously only seen in 2012. Among other things, the concentration of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere is measured.
The forest fire risk was exacerbated “by the high temperatures and drought that hit the continent last winter,” it said loudly CAMS report.
Forest fires in Canada, Kazakhstan and Mongolia
Fires in Canada, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and some neighboring regions of Russia were above average. In May, one of the highest emission levels ever recorded was recorded in Canada. The province of Saskatchewan was hit particularly hard.
The previous emission record for this region in May was two megatons – this year it was surpassed by more than tenfold (23 megatons). Record levels of fire emissions were also achieved in the provinces of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nova Scotia.
The Atmosphere Monitoring Service is one of several components of the European Union’s Copernicus programme. Among other things, it provides data on the atmosphere, oceans, land, climate change, security and energy obtained from satellite images.
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