Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Reaches Europe, Affecting Air Quality

Wildfires raging across Canada have released massive amounts of smoke, reaching Europe and affecting air quality, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation program. Smoke plumes from the wildfires have been detected over the North Atlantic and parts of Europe, stretching as far as Scandinavia. While the smoke is found in high layers of the atmosphere and doesn’t significantly impact air quality, it acts as a solar filter. In 2023, Canadian wildfires emitted nearly 410 megatons of carbon compounds into the atmosphere, with smoke previously reaching Europe in previous years.