Forest fires in South America have caused unusually high carbon emissions so far this year. By September 19, 183 megatons of carbon had been released in Brazil alone, according to the EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).
Of this, 65 megatons were generated in September alone. This means that emissions in 2024 will be similar to those in the record year of 2007, it said.
“In 2024, wildfire activity in South America was well above average, particularly in the wetlands of the Amazon and Pantanal,” explained CAMS senior scientist Mark Parrington. “The impacts of smoke transport extended well beyond the area surrounding the fires, even reaching across the Atlantic.”
The effects of smoke transport even reached across the Atlantic.
Mark Parringtonresearcher at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service
CAMS estimates total annual carbon emissions in the states of Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul, where most of the Pantanal wetlands are located, to be 28 and 15 megatons, respectively, by 2024. These are the highest emissions since the CAMS dataset began 22 years ago.
In Bolivia, emissions from forest fires have already reached their highest level since records began: by mid-September, almost 76 megatons of carbon had been emitted there; the previous record for the whole of 2010 was 73 megatons.
Heat and drought
According to CAMS, the extremely high temperatures of the last few months in South America, persistent drought and other climatological factors have contributed to the fires. June to October is forest fire season in Brazil. Farmers traditionally burn forest areas to create new pastures. If the fires get out of control, huge wildfires can occur.
The European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service monitors forest fires and their emissions using satellite observations of active fires. Carbon emissions are estimated based on fire intensity. (dpa)
