The catastrophic fire in Australia in 2019-2020 spread so much smoke through the stratosphere that it covered the southern hemisphere for several months and set a record level of atmospheric aerosols, according to an Israeli study released with satellite measurements released this Friday (03/19/2021). ) In the journal Science.
Wildfires, which cover an area similar to Syria as a whole, have had an atmospheric impact comparable to a “moderate volcanic eruption”, meaning “extreme increases” in airborne particles, with rates shot to “some of the highest” in 2020.
This “disorder” caused by the “intensity” and the widespread fires in the sea country greatly affected the upper layer of the atmosphere, where millions of tons of smoke spread.
Israeli scientists Ilan Goren of the Weissman Institute of Science and Eaton Hirsch of the Israel Institute for Biological Research have reached this conclusion by recording the maximum aerosol optical depth and the measurement used to calculate the charge of these substances in the atmosphere and its radioactive effects.
Atmospheric aerosols are solid or liquid particles suspended on the Earth’s surface or in the atmosphere that affect the global climate and their emissions cause pollution at the planetary level.
Satellite image of fires recorded in December 2019 in Australia.
By 2020, products from Australian smoke were higher than the Southern Hemisphere’s monthly average, which was “three times higher” in January, Weissman said in a statement. These changes “eclipsed” the amount of aerosols recorded after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, the study noted, which was the largest in the last 100 years.
Through satellite data they identified a stratospheric bundle covering part of the Southern Hemisphere and southeastern Austria. It peaked in the first three months of 2020 and lasted until July. Hirsch explained that during this period, in Australia, not far from Chile, “people were breathing particles from the fire.”
After entering the stratosphere, the air moves continuously and in a straight line, with the particles spreading “slowly around the entire hemisphere”. In turn, they “stayed in the air” longer than they normally would in the lower atmospheric layer, and they disintegrate in a few days, the scientist said.
Another possible effect of the smoke would have been to cool the affected sea areas, although it is not yet known how much this could have affected the marine environment or weather patterns.
JU (afp, efe)
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Hell in Australia
Absolutely on fire
There are more than 180 fires across Australia. The state of New South Wales on the east coast is particularly affected. There is nothing unusual on this continent of fire, but this time it was the intensity with which they struck Australia: the fire season started very early, in September 2019. Since then, seven million hectares have been burned.
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Hell in Australia
A terrible New Year
Since the beginning of the year, the situation has worsened again: new heat waves with temperatures above 40 degrees are contributing to the spread of the fire. Firefighters are constantly on the lookout and many residents, like the couple from Nowra, New South Wales, fear for their homes. Thousands of homes were burned, killing at least 24 people.
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Hell in Australia
Sea of flames
To the right of this satellite image is Lake Yukumben in New South Wales, and to the left, a forest breaking fire. The photo was taken with a special infrared technology that specifically sees short wave infrared light from fires. Photos from space often show clouds of smoke reaching as far as New Zealand.
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Hell in Australia
Frustration
A boy tries to put out the flames with a towel. It is difficult for farmers to continue to feed their livestock as grazing lands and fields are affected by fires. Many of them had to kill their livestock by burns or depression. It is estimated that millions of animals have died in New South Wales alone.
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Hell in Australia
Endangered animals
This cola was saved, but for many animals, help came too late. As for koalas, fire is especially destructive as the trees naturally curl up. This way they can escape from the fire that has developed. But today’s fire reaches the trees. So far, two-thirds of colas have died in the region.
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Hell in Australia
Mission to Hell
Out of the coastal cities, Australia is the least populated, so volunteer firefighters are very important in fighting the fire. This year they will be given a special fund: those who participate in firefighting for at least 10 days will receive an equivalent of about 190 euros a day.
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Hell in Australia
Recognition after death
Fighting flames, smoke and embers is very dangerous. Firefighter Jeffrey Keaton was killed in the action. When he was buried on January 2, his young son received a medal in his place. So far, three firefighters have died during the fire season this year.
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Hell in Australia
Run away from the flames
The woman, who fled with her 18-month-old daughter in November, has already been evacuated after a fire broke out in the port of Coffs, north of Sydney. Elsewhere, new fire sources are emerging: in the state of Victoria, which includes the city of Melbourne, authorities say 67,000 people have been forced to leave their belongings in recent days.
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Hell in Australia
Canberra
The man in front of the Australian Parliament in Canberra failed to cover the flames with his high-pressure cleaner. In the view of many Australians, this may be a symbol of petty political action against fire. In the capital, smoke has polluted the air and residents are being asked to stay indoors.
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Hell in Australia
Reviews by Scott Morrison
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been particularly criticized for failing to resolve the crisis and for political reasons: although the conservative politician no longer denies climate change, he continues to support the coal industry. Gradually Morrison begins to recognize the magnitude of the current fires.
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Hell in Australia
Whether or not to shake hands with the Prime Minister
Meanwhile, Morrison admitted that it was a mistake to go to Hawaii in the middle of the fire season. Since then, he has corrected his mistake and tried to show his human side (photo). But on social media, videos of people refusing to shake hands with the Prime Minister continue to be seen. Many were not happy he handled the crisis.
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Hell in Australia
Symptom and cause
In the short term, Australia will have to deal with the fire somehow. In the long run, sharp measures will have to be taken as fires can occur frequently and turn violent as the planet warms. That is why tens of thousands of Australians are taking to the streets again and again to persuade their government to take ambitious measures to protect the climate.
Author: David L.
By Greg Vega 
