Canada is facing its worst wildfire season on record, with over 18.6mn acres already burned across the country and the smoke from these wildfires has now crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached Western Europe, while also covering US Midwest, CNN reports.
The smoke from the wildfires, which earlier this month enveloped New York City in a thick haze, has now extended its reach to the United Kingdom, as reported by the UK Met Office. This smoke has made its way into Europe by riding the jet stream, powerful upper-level winds in the atmosphere. Consequently, the smoke's impact on surface air quality in Europe is not expected to be as severe as the Northeast United States experienced a few weeks ago.
The UK Met Office conveyed on Twitter that although the smoke is situated high in the atmosphere, it may contribute to vibrant sunrises and sunsets in the upcoming days. According to forecast models, the smoke is anticipated to persist in the upper levels of the atmosphere over Europe for a significant part of the week.
In early June, CNN documented that smoke from the wildfires had reached Norway. The injection of smoke at high altitudes allows it to remain in the atmosphere for longer durations and travel greater distances.
The smoke has also been continuously drifting southward across North America after previously covering the east coast. On Tuesday, a visible haze and smell of burning lingered in the affected region. Cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, and parts of Michigan and Ontario reported air quality index levels in the 200s, considered "very unhealthy" but lower than the levels experienced earlier this month when they exceeded 400 in some parts of the Northeast.
Health authorities advised vulnerable groups to limit outdoor activities during poor air quality conditions, and Chicago school officials moved summer programs indoors. Approximately 500 fires are still burning in Canada out of nearly 3,000 recorded this season, with an area of approximately 7.7mn hectares (30,000 miles²) already consumed.
These fires have released a record 160mn tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, according to the European Union's Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service. The smoke is predicted to continue drifting south and eastward in the coming days.
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