Wildfires in Canada cause poor air quality across North America and Europe

Wildfires continue to burn across Canada in August

As reported by Copernicus, wildfires continue to burn across the boreal regions of North America, particularly in Western Canada.

Provinces including the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are experiencing intense wildfire activity.

As of August 2024, Canada’s total wildfire carbon emissions have reached over 80 megatonnes, nearing the levels seen in 2023, the country’s highest August emissions since 2003.

In Saskatchewan and Manitoba, emissions for August are the highest on record in the CAMS database.

The Northwest Territories have also seen sharp increases in emissions following heatwave conditions.

British Columbia and Alberta have recorded their highest annual emissions, trailing only behind 2023.

Wildfires impact air quality across North America and Europe

The wildfires have had wide-reaching effects on air quality, not only in Canada but across North America and Europe.

Since early August, smoke has travelled from Western Canada to the east coast of the United States, reducing air quality in major cities.

By mid-August, smoke had crossed the North Atlantic Ocean, reaching Western Europe.

According to CAMS, on 17 August, areas such as Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France reported high aerosol optical depth (AOD) values, indicating significant smoke particle concentrations in the atmosphere.

AOD levels reflect the density of particulate matter in the air, and elevated levels are linked to reduced air quality and hazy skies.

CAMS analysis showed these impacts spreading further across Europe.

Aerosol depth measurements show global spread

CAMS confirmed the spread of smoke particles across Europe by evaluating aerosol optical depth measurements.

Independent Aeronet data confirmed these findings at monitoring stations in Cork (Ireland), Camborne (United Kingdom), and Brest and Arcachon (France).

The measurements revealed that the smoke particles from Canadian wildfires reached European airspace, supporting forecasts of poor air quality across affected regions.

These findings indicate that the fires in Canada are not only a domestic issue but a global one, affecting air quality across vast distances.

CAMS continues monitoring fire emissions and impacts

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service continues to track the wildfires, their emissions, and their atmospheric impact through satellite data and forecasts.

CAMS regularly updates the total estimated carbon emissions from the fires and provides insights into the transport of smoke across the globe.

The ongoing data collection helps governments and environmental agencies to better understand the evolving situation and respond accordingly.

CAMS continues to collaborate with independent monitoring stations to validate its findings and ensure the accuracy of its forecasts.

Canadian wildfires affecting air quality across continents: summary

The intense wildfires across Western Canada are causing major atmospheric impacts both locally and internationally.

According to Copernicus, smoke has travelled from Canada across the North Atlantic, reaching parts of Europe and affecting air quality.

Canadian provinces, including Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories, have seen record-breaking wildfire carbon emissions in August 2024.

Meanwhile, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service has confirmed significant smoke transport across North America and Europe, with evaluations showing agreement between forecasts and independent monitoring stations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France.

These fires continue to contribute to global air quality concerns.