POST Online Media Lite Edition



 

Europe grapples with influx of smoke from Canada wildfires

Christian Fernsby |
Europe experiences significant transport of smoke from Canada wildfires.

Article continues below




The significant wildfire activity witnessed in Canada in May has continued and intensified throughout June, generating record levels of emissions, with significant long-range transport of smoke crossing the Atlantic and reaching Europe.

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has been closely monitoring the situation, tracking active fire locations, fire radiative power and emissions, and forecasting the impacts of the resulting smoke on the atmosphere.

The record levels of emissions generated by the intense wildfire activity across Canada in May and June are having a major impact on air quality, both in Canada and further afield.

According to CAMS data, fire radiative power (FRP) for the country as a whole in the first three weeks of June was significantly higher than the 2003-2022 mean, with estimated carbon emissions at over 100 megatonnes for the month.

Emissions levels from the start of the year until the first week of May remained close to the 2003-2022 mean, but then quickly rose to significantly higher than any previous year in the CAMS record.

The impact on air quality has been far reaching, especially across North America.

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires reached Europe in the second week of June, and a significant episode of long-range smoke transport across the Atlantic has been forecast by CAMS since the 23 June with the main volume of smoke reaching western Europe on 26 June and predicted to continue further east until 29 June.

The CAMS total aerosol optical depth (AOD) forecast from 25 June clearly shows the long-range transport of smoke across the Atlantic, reaching southern Europe and the British Isles before travelling further north and east.

Europe is not the only region impacted by the smoke.

CAMS AOD analyses for 1-26 June show significant smoke transport from the Quebec wildfires southwards around 8 June, where it significantly impacted surface air quality in New York, Philadelphia and other major population centres in the northeastern United States, where more than 75 million people were under air quality alerts in the first week of June.

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, as of June 26 there were 492 active fires across the country, including 257 burning out of control.

The wildfires in Quebec, which developed in early June with several reported incidents of pyroconvection (strong and deep convection that can sometimes occur within a fire plume), are currently receiving a lot of media attention due to their impact on air quality – both in Canada, where air quality in Montreal is currently ranked as the worst in the world, and in the neighbouring U.S., with millions across North America being advised to wear high-grade masks outdoors due to the smoke.

The intensity of the Quebec wildfires is reflected in CAMS fire radiative power (FRP) data for June, which are significantly higher that the 2003-2022 mean values for the same period.

Reflecting the high FRP values, the CAMS wildfire carbon emissions estimates for Quebec for May-June are also high. At around 3.5 megatonnes, these emissions are already the highest since 2013, even though the full figures for June have yet to be calculated.

In Ontario too, the intensity of the wildfires in June is reflected in the FRP values, which were significantly higher than the mean values in the first 26 days of June. Estimated carbon emissions from the wildfires in Ontario are already the highest since 2003.

As of the morning of 27 June, there were 32 active fires in Saskatchewan, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA). In total, the province has experienced 249 wildfires this year, compared to a five-year average of 185 wildfires.

Meanwhile, British Colombia currently has 103 active wildfires, according to the British Colombia Wildfire Service, including the Donnie Creek wildfire, which is now the largest recorded in the province’s history.

Alberta, which declared a state of emergency on 6 May currently has 83 active wildfires, 10 of which are still out of control.

In British Colombia and Saskatchewan, the estimated carbon emissions for May-June are already the highest on record, while in Alberta the emissions over the two-month period, estimated at just over 20 megatonnes, are the highest since the extreme fires experienced in May 2019, in which over 880,000 hectares were burned.


What to read next

Canada reports 10 new wildfires
Wildfires grow in Florida, force evacuation of 600 homes
Unprecedented wildfires blazing across the Arctic visible from space

U.S.: Pacific storm will bring strong winds, heavy rain, and mountain snow

 
A strong storm that originated over the Pacific has tracked through the Great Basin and is currently transitioning across the Rockies to redevelop across the central High Plains later today into early Saturday morning.
 
 

Latest

U.S. drillers add oil and gas rigs to 586
Cold-Link Logistics will create 123 new jobs in Robeson County, North Carolina
ArcelorMittal plans Alabama mill to produce electrical steel, will create 1,300+ jobs
Manhattan Tunnel Project estimated to create 15,800 new jobs

NEWS

EPPO probes steel import tax fraud with searches in UK and Germany

Police investigate extensive data breach on Valio’s network
U.S.: Prolonged heavy rain and snowfall
Croatia: Investigation launched against 2 individuals and 1 company suspected of subsidy fraud
Latvia-Sweden subsea cable damaged in Baltic Sea
Storm brings rain and snow to southwest U.S.; snow on higher elevations
 

BUSINESS

U.S. oil rig count rises to 479

New York AG warns businesses against price gouging of eggs and poultry amid bird flu outbreak
Firms admit laundering Russian wood into EU
U.S. oil and gas rig count falls to 576
Kansas Governor announces $25M for Stafford County Transload Facility Project
Ukraine planning to resume port concessions in 2025
 

Trending Now

EU to support Envision AESC France's production of batteries for electric vehicles

Denmark supports hydrogen pipeline to Germany with $1.1bn of subsidies

EU invests over €1.2 billion in cross-border infrastructure

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd launch Gemini Cooperation


POLITICS

South Africa raises national minimum wage to $1.55 per hour

Moldova announces tender for constructing wind, solar parks worth 200 mln euros
Denmark supports hydrogen pipeline to Germany with $1.1bn of subsidies
EU invests over €1.2 billion in cross-border infrastructure
More nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales
Colorado and United Kingdom sign agreement to foster trade and investment
 

Today We Recommend

Moldova announces tender for constructing wind, solar parks worth 200 mln euros


Highlights 

Cold-Link Logistics will create 123 new jobs in Robeson County, North Carolina

ArcelorMittal plans Alabama mill to produce electrical steel, will create 1,300+ jobs

Manhattan Tunnel Project estimated to create 15,800 new jobs


COMPANIES

Egypt unveils new Suez Canal navigation charts for expanded route

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd launch Gemini Cooperation
EU to support Envision AESC France's production of batteries for electric vehicles
Ooredoo and ASN to build subsea cable for GCC countries and Iraq
Pratt & Whitney to expand manufacturing operations in North Carolina, create 325 jobs
GE Vernova to create 75 new jobs in Schenectady County, New York
 

CAREERS

Inizio appoints Colin Stanley as chief commercial officer

Bridgewest Group names operating partner and general manager, Europe
Keith Hale named group CEO to Unite Titian Software & Labguru (BioData)
Solithor appoints new CEO
McWin appoints Guillaume Charlin as managing partner
PrecisionLife: Bill Keating new chief commercial officer, diagnostics and healthcare
 

ECONOMY

U.S. becomes New Zealand's second largest export destination

Indonesia goes from $0.6 billion deficit to $5.9 billion surplus
Greece to repay $5.3 billion bailout debt early
Fraser Institute: Canada’s debt ranking falls from best in G7 to 7th worst
Kuwait reports $5.2 bln budget deficit in FY 2023-24
Eurozone reports modest Q1 GDP growth, stable annual inflation
 

EARNINGS

Ericsson Q2 sales down but North America up

Lockton revenue $3.55 billion
Motorcar Parts of America Q4 sales $189.5 million
Limoneira Q2 revenue $44.6 million
Lululemon athletica Q1 revenue increased 10% to $2.2 billion
PVH Q1 GAAP EBIT $205 million
 

OP-ED

Micromanaging is the worst enemy of efficiency and teamwork

Niger set to monetize massive gas reserves through Saharan natural gas pipeline
Putting the brakes on EV folly that choked the market
Oil discovery in Kavango Basin may mean huge benefits for Namibians
Cape Town and Dubai battle over Africa's energy future
Is America going to lose its superpower status?
 

AGRIFISH

U.S. resumes cattle and bison imports from Mexico under new protocol

Canada considers lowering tebuconazole residue limit on grapes, impacting U.S. imports
How expensive was agricultural land in Europe in 2023
Iran to import 50,000 tons of potatoes to stabilize prices amid rising food costs
JBS and partners donate 3 million tags to improve livestock traceability in Pará, Brazil
Hong Kong suspends of poultry meat and products from areas in U.S.
 

LEADERSHIP

Study: Missing a deadline has a bigger impact than you might think

Employers prefer younger job candidates for AI roles although experienced workers perform same or better
Study finds workers misjudge wage markets
Some organizations may need to expand their hierarchical structures earlier than others
Study finds there's right way and wrong way to deliver negative feedback in workplace
Allyship is critical and its needs appreciation
 

CRIME

Commission fines Pierre Cardin and its licensee Ahlers €5.7 million for restricting cross-border sales of clothing

BHP, Vale agree to pay $30B damages for Brazil dam disaster
Commission fines České dráhy and Österreichische Bundesbahnen €48.7 million over collusion to exclude common compe
SEC charges Keurig with making inaccurate statements regarding recyclability of K-Cup beverage pod
SEC charges John Deere with FCPA violations for subsidiary’s role in Thai bribery scheme
AG Bonta secures $3.9 million settlement with cryptocurrency company Robinhood
 

Magazine

TRAVEL

Radisson Hotel Group debuts in the heart of Tunisia’s capital city, Tunis

Morocco’s first Radisson branded hotel opens in Casablanca
Buna channels, an unreal and beautiful part of Bosnia and Herzegovina
JW Marriott unveils Mindful Haven with opening of JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi
Sotheby's Sports Week returns with fantastic artifacts
Red Roof properties open in Michigan
 

SEA, LAND, AIR

Citroën C3 Aircross, the most affordable compact SUV with 7 seats

2025 Chevrolet Equinox stands apart with fresh looks and capability
Hill Helicopters HX50, luxury in the sky
Opel Movano becomes fully equipped camper van
Porsche Panamera, new hybrid variants
Dodge Charger, 670 horsepower of electric
 

DESIGN

Cold night, hot fire pit, cool entertainment

Embellish your home with PVC panels
You'll have to hurry if you want one of 20 new Louis Vuitton watches
Luxury duvet looks good, fells good and keeps you healthy
Vacheron Constantin, watches for life and more
Schüller kitchens, where functionality marries design
 

GADGETS

MESA/Boogie Celebrates 40-year partnership with John Petrucci

reMarkable 2, monochrome tablet for your thoughts and your eyes
OnePlus Ace 3V, first with Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, flagship with a reason
Samsung Galaxy S24 is photography powerhouse
Casette tapes are making a big comeback, and so are portable players
 

HEALTH

Human cases of anthrax reported in western Mongolia

One more barrier to developing vaccine for HIV removed
Rwanda begins world's first clinical trial for treatment of Marburg virus disease
Rwanda restricts gatherings amid Marburg virus outbreak, to begin trials of vaccine
Teksas Attorney General reaches settlement in first-of-its-kind healthcare generative AI investigation
Potentially deadly fungal disease spreading in California
 

MEANTIME

India launches space docking experiment mission

World-first carbon-14 diamond battery made
Einstein Telescope step closer
Exoplanet-hunting telescope to begin search for another Earth in 2026
India to build first phase of its own space station by 2028
Roscosmos chief approves schedule of creating Russian orbital station through 2033