Intense wildfires in Canada have produced heavy smoke that has reached northwestern Europe, according to the European Union’s climate monitoring service report today.
The substantial smoke plumes are situated at high altitudes and do not currently pose a health risk, the statement indicated.
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) stated, “Smoke originating from wildfires in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan has crossed the Atlantic.”
Satellites began tracking the smoke in mid-May, with some plumes extending as far east as Greece and the eastern Mediterranean.
More plumes are anticipated to cover the continent in the upcoming days.
Wildfire smoke contains gaseous pollutants like carbon monoxide, along with water vapor and particulate pollution, which can be especially dangerous to health.
Wildfire smoke is visible above Highway 97 in British Columbia, where fires threaten around 5% of Canada’s crude oil production.
A notable concentration of carbon monoxide is expected to pass over northwestern France, including the Paris Basin, on Tuesday.
While the high-altitude smoke advancing towards Europe is not predicted to significantly affect surface air quality, it will likely create hazy skies and reddish-orange sunsets.
Manitoba in central Canada is experiencing one of its worst starts to the fire season in years due to drought conditions, while Saskatchewan to the west declared a state of emergency at the end of May, forcing thousands to evacuate.
“Central regions of Canada have faced a very intense few weeks regarding wildfire emissions,” remarked Mark Parrington, scientific director at CAMS.
Canadian authorities anticipate a more severe fire season than normal this summer in central and western Canada, mainly due to extreme drought conditions.
In other regions, extensive forest fires have been ongoing in Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District since early April, especially east of Lake Baikal, generating approximately 35 million tons of carbon emissions, as reported by Copernicus.
