As Europe grapples with one of its most severe wildfire seasons in years, an interactive map has been released to help track the extent of hazardous air pollution caused by these blazes. The Fire Emissions Watch tool, developed by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), allows users to monitor wildfire emissions globally, review past fire events, and compare affected countries. The tool transforms vast amounts of satellite data into an accessible format, displaying daily carbon emissions as an indicator of pollutants within wildfire smoke and providing a 'smoke forecast' to predict the spread of polluted air.
France has recorded its highest year-to-date fire emissions on record, surpassing the previous peak set in 2022, and experienced its worst July for wildfire carbon emissions. The country also faced its worst July for wildfire carbon emissions, producing 0.89 megatonnes of carbon compared to the previous record of 0.64 megatonnes. Spain and Portugal have also seen high levels of emissions, with significant columns indicating daily carbon emissions and purple areas showing the total aerosol amount from wildfire emissions. Elsewhere, Canada produced the highest wildfire emissions globally in the past month, with smoke impacting air quality across North America and contributing to pollution alerts in parts of the eastern United States.
Wildfire smoke poses a significant health risk due to its composition of microscopic fine particles (PM2.5) and hazardous gases. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, potentially causing respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, as well as exacerbating chronic lung diseases. Exposure can also lead to eye irritation and has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes, particularly in older adults. Health agencies recommend staying indoors with windows closed and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity when smoke levels are high.
The tool enables users to examine emissions from a global perspective down to individual regions or custom-drawn areas. It also allows for revisiting major wildfire events dating back to 2003, including significant blazes in Europe, the Amazon, and Canada. Scientists note that while the overall number of wildfires in Europe may be decreasing compared to four decades ago, the conditions under which they ignite are becoming far more dangerous, with hotter, drier summers attributed to climate change increasing the likelihood of fast-moving and destructive fires, especially across southern European countries like Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece. On July 31, wildfires on the Suffolk coast released an estimated 3,249 tonnes of carbon emissions in a single day.
CAMS Director Laurence Rouil stated that the product's launch is particularly timely given the current global fire situation, noting that the tool will make information on fire emissions readily available for understanding local impacts and global trends. The Fire Emissions Watch dashboard can be accessed via the CAMS website.