Wildfires in Canada generate record emissions to reach Europe, says CAMS

The severe wildfires in Canada have not only intensified throughout June but have also caused record levels of emissions that have now reached Europe, according to data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).

The increase in fire radiative power (FRP) and the consequent impact on air quality are now being seen on a global scale.

From the start of the year until the first week of May, the emissions remained at an average level. However, they soon rose to significantly exceed any previous year on record, according to CAMS data. Over 100 megatonnes of carbon emissions were estimated for June, making it a record-breaking month.

North America, as well as Europe, has been heavily impacted by the air quality due to the wildfires. Smoke from the fires reached Europe by the second week of June. Moreover, the forecast made by CAMS on 23rd June predicted a substantial long-range smoke transport across the Atlantic, which was expected to reach Western Europe by 26th June and travel further east until 29th June.

Record-breaking emissions from Canadian wildfires reach Europe: CAMS report. Photo courtesy of Kevin Ellis from Pixabay.

New York, Philadelphia, and other northeastern United States major population centers were also affected by the smoke transport from the Quebec wildfires around the 8th of June. Air quality alerts were issued for over 75 million people in the first week of June in these regions.

As of June 26, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported 492 active fires across the country, with 257 being out of control. Notably, the wildfires in Quebec have drawn significant media attention due to their effects on air quality in Canada and neighboring United States. High-grade masks have been recommended for outdoor use for millions across North America due to the smoke.

CAMS fire radiative power (FRP) data for June showed that the intensity of the Quebec wildfires was much higher than average values for the same period from 2003 to 2022. Estimated carbon emissions from the wildfires in Quebec for May-June were also high, making them the highest since 2013. Similar trends were observed in Ontario, where estimated carbon emissions from wildfires have already reached the highest level since 2003.