Wildfires cause record emissions in the Northern Hemisphere

carbon di oxide

California, Siberia, Greece, Turkey… – This year alone, wildfires in the Northern Hemisphere have caused record levels of CO2 emissions.

September 21, 2021, 2:24 pm.

Reading (DPA). Devastating wildfires in various regions of the Northern Hemisphere caused record levels of carbon emissions this year.

According to the EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, since records began in 2003, carbon emissions have never been higher in July and August this year. According to estimates, 1258.8 megatons of CO2 was released worldwide as a result of fires in July. It was as much as 1,384.6 megatons in August. The intensity and duration of the fire was also extraordinary.

Particularly high heat achieved extreme values

More than half of the carbon emitted in July and August was released from fires in North America and Siberia. In Russia alone, 970 megatons of CO2 was released between June and August. Most of it was in the Yakutia region and the Chukchi Autonomous Region. However, violent fires also broke out in the Arctic and Mediterranean.

For their estimate, scientists from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service use satellite images of active fires. Heat production is measured, from which conclusions can be drawn about emissions.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210921-99-301246/3