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The number of active wildfires in the world was less than an average year, and carbon dioxide emissions from this year’s fires were among the lowest since measurements began in 2003, according to the satellite monitoring service of the EU, Cams.
Carbon dioxide emissions from wildfires have also generally decreased since 2003.
– But we can’t be content with this, because the fires in the worst-hit areas were at record intensity due to warmer and drier conditions, says Mark Parrington, a researcher and wildfire expert at Cams.
Says greater intensity it generates more pollutants, which can be transported hundreds of miles and affect the air quality of millions of people.
In southern Africa, the number of fires has been significantly lower than normal, leading to a global reduction in the average. But in the United States, Siberia, the Caribbean and southern Brazil, activity has increased.
In the western United States, some of the strongest fires measured so far occurred after an unusually dry and hot summer.
In total, this year’s wildfires caused carbon dioxide emissions of 1.7 billion tons, just below last year’s level of 1.9 billion tons.
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