The vast forest fires in central regions of South America are causing carbon emissions that have not been seen in almost 20 years and in Argentina figures six times higher than last summer were reached, the European atmospheric control service Copernicus reported Thursday. (CAMS).
The heat radiation power of these fires in the middle of the summer season in Paraguay, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela represent records “significantly above the 2003-2021 average”CAMS explained through a statement.
“The analyzes show that the fire levels in Paraguay and Argentina between January 1 and February 28 reached record figures in terms of carbon emissions since the beginning of 2003, when the data series began,” the text said. as quoted by the AFP news agency.
the #CopernicusAtmosphere Monitoring Service has been tracking #wildfires in South America, which has been observed exceptionally high fire intensity since the beginning of 2022, with some regions showing record high fire emissions for the time of year.
Formore? https://t.co/WlBK8m9utw pic.twitter.com/jwqbvhxR3v
— Copernicus ECMWF (@CopernicusECMWF) March 10, 2022
Carbon dioxide emissions from forest fires in Argentina reached about 12 megatons, almost six times more than in the same period of the previous year, while the emissions of Paraguay amounted to 5 megatons, almost five times more, according to the graphs of the European observatory.
“CAMS continues to monitor South America in relation to La Niña weather conditions, which according to the World Meteorological Organization will continue between March and May,” the organization said, specifying that this phenomenon, unlike El Niño, causes major droughts.
In Argentina, the province of Corrientes is currently suffering the worst drought in the last 60 years and more than half of the Iberá National Park (195,000 hectares) was engulfed by flames, the text added.
