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SMOKE: Smoke from the US wildfires, which was expected to hit Norway over the weekend, was observed in Sørlandet on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Knut Nilsen
Smoke from wildfires in the US has been observed in Byfjorden in Kristiansand. – Very unusual, says the climate teacher.
Violent wildfires have raged along the west coast of the United States since mid-August. The states of California, Oregon and Washington in particular have been hit the hardest.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated and so far at least 35 people have lost their lives in the powerful wildfires.
Earlier this week the EU’s Center for Climate and Weather Monitoring (CAMS) announced that smoke from wildfires on the west coast could reach Europe and Norway over the weekend.
It was Teknisk Ukeblad who brought up the case for the first time.
– Large amounts of ash
VG has received photographs showing clear traces of smoke from the forest fire in Sørlandet.
– Large amounts of ash from wildfires rise into the atmosphere and then wind and weather carry them to Europe, says Tore Furevik, director of the Bjerknes Center for Climate Research (UiB) and professor of oceanography at VG.
The climate professor believes that it is highly unusual for smoke particles from the west coast of the United States to reach Norway.
– I don’t recall that we have received smoke from such forest fires in Europe and Norway before, he says.
– At the same time, it says a lot about the extent of these forest fires. There are large amounts of smoke and ash, he adds.
UNUSUAL: Tore Furevik is Professor of Oceanography at the University of Bergen. He says he does not recall seeing smoke particles from the west coast of the United States in Norway. Photography: Hallgeir Vågenes, VG
However, he does not believe that smoke from forest fires has any effect on air quality in Norway.
– The ashes that have reached Europe and Norway will probably not affect us. It is so diluted and in small amounts. It also doesn’t smell like smoke, says Furevik.
The sky gets redder
The professor says that smoke particles, among other things, could affect the color of the sky.
– At dusk and dawn, the sky may turn redder. It is also something that has been previously seen after large volcanic eruptions, says Furevik.
The violent wildfires that are now spreading along the west coast of the United States are due to climate change, the professor believes.
According to Teknisk Ukeblad, fires in the US have so far emitted about 30.3 megatons of CO₂ equivalent. By comparison, Norway had a discharge of 50.3 megatons last year.
– It has become drier and warmer along the west coast. This means that you get drier soils and plants. This increases the likelihood of wildfires, says Furevik, adding:
– Everything indicates that we may have many more major forest fires with greater frequency in the future.
