Leslie Massey
The 2019/2020 Australian wildfires generated a smoke cloud that ascended to 35km in altitude, causing the smoke to travel across the globe. The smoke from these wildfires has circumnavigated the planet, causing hazardous air quality and health problems in major cities in Australia, New Zealand, and South America. The fires have emitted 400 megatonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, producing harmful pollutants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Distance traveled by smoke | Circumnavigated the globe, reaching as far as South America and possibly Antarctica |
| Height reached | Up to 35 km (21.7 miles) into the stratosphere |
| Impact | Hazardous air quality, harmful health effects, and global atmospheric conditions |
| Cause | Unprecedented scale and intensity of bushfires, exacerbated by climate change |
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What You'll Learn
The smoke circled the globe
The smoke from the 2019/2020 Australian wildfires has circled the globe. The fires were exacerbated by climate change, producing an unusually large number of pyrocumulonimbus events, or fire-generated thunderstorms. These storms sent smoke soaring into the stratosphere, as high as 17.7 km (11 miles) and even 35 km, according to some satellite observations. Once in the stratosphere, the smoke can be transported by wind patterns, travelling thousands of miles from its source and affecting atmospheric conditions globally.
The smoke from the Australian bushfires travelled across the Southern Ocean, reaching New Zealand, where it turned the skies hazy and caused colorful sunrises and sunsets. It then continued across the Pacific Ocean to South America, reaching Chile and Argentina. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that the smoke had probably also reached the Antarctic.
The smoke's impact on atmospheric conditions was comparable to that of moderate volcanic eruptions. It blocked solar radiation, with a striking effect being the generation of a self-maintained anticyclonic vortex measuring 1000 km in diameter and featuring its own ozone hole. This vortex persisted in the stratosphere for over 13 weeks, travelled 66,000 km, and lifted a confined bubble of smoke and moisture to an altitude of 35 km.
The smoke from the Australian wildfires had a significant impact on global atmospheric conditions and air quality, with potential health consequences for people around the world. NASA is still studying the overall impact of the smoke, including whether it provided a net atmospheric cooling or warming effect.
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It affected South America
The wildfires that ravaged Australia in late 2019 and early 2020 caused smoke to travel across the globe. The smoke from these fires drifted thousands of kilometres across the Southern Pacific Ocean to South America, affecting cities on the continent.
The smoke from the Australian wildfires had already impacted Australia and New Zealand, turning skies orange over Auckland and causing hazardous air quality. As the smoke continued to spread, it eventually reached South America, where it had a similar impact. Skies over central Chile turned grey, and the sunset in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, turned red.
The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that the smoke from the Australian bushfires had drifted across the Pacific and affected cities in South America. According to the WMO spokeswoman, Clare Nullis, the fires led to hazardous air quality, which affected human health in major cities in Australia and New Zealand, and the smoke then drifted across the Pacific to South America.
While the smoke did not pose a health risk in South America, the impact of the smoke on global atmospheric conditions is still being studied. The fires in Australia emitted 400 megatonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and produced harmful pollutants. The smoke from these fires interacted with global weather patterns, accelerating into the upper troposphere and even the lowermost stratosphere, enabling long-range transport around the globe.
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It reached New Zealand
Australia's bushfires have had devastating impacts on the country, with smoke from the fires interacting with global weather patterns and travelling long distances. The smoke from these fires has indeed reached New Zealand, with reports of hazy, yellow skies and an unusual smell of burning in the air. New Zealand is separated from Australia by around 2,000 km (1,242 miles) of the Tasman Sea, and satellite images have shown how the smoke traversed this distance to affect New Zealand.
The smoke first reached New Zealand's South Island on December 31, 2019, and later spread to the North Island, including Auckland. The smoke turned the skies an eerie yellow and orange colour, with residents commenting on the strange light and the distinct smell of woodsmoke. The smoke was thick enough to obscure the famous glaciers of New Zealand's South Island, impacting the experience of tourists who flock to the region for the stunning mountain scenery.
The smoke from the Australian bushfires had a significant impact on air quality in New Zealand. The air quality index in some areas reached 161, a level at which people are advised to limit their time outdoors. The smoke caused hazy skies and led to colourful sunrises and sunsets, with reports of orange and golden hues over the sea and sky. These effects were not limited to New Zealand, as the smoke drifted even further across the Pacific Ocean, impacting cities in South America.
The transport of smoke from the Australian bushfires to New Zealand and beyond highlights the global reach of such events. The smoke can be carried high into the atmosphere, where it is caught up in wind patterns and transported vast distances, affecting air quality and potentially causing health issues in regions far removed from the original fires. The impact of the Australian bushfire smoke on New Zealand demonstrates the interconnectedness of atmospheric conditions and the potential for local events to have far-reaching consequences.
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It rose to the stratosphere
The wildfires in Australia during the 2019-2020 fire season were unprecedented in their intensity. The smoke from these fires entered the stratosphere, reaching heights of 19 miles (31 km) above Earth. This was higher than scientists had ever observed with satellites.
The smoke plume from the Australian wildfires led to a newly discovered phenomenon. Once the smoke entered the stratosphere, a smoke-filled vortex formed. The vortex rose as high as 35 km while travelling across the Southern Hemisphere. It was first identified on January 4, 2020, and was then tracked for over three months.
The smoke was injected into the stratosphere by extreme convective clouds known as Pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb). These clouds are formed when a column of hot air rises from the flames, carrying smoke into the atmosphere where it forms clouds. The pyroCb clouds from the Australian wildfires were so large that they injected unprecedented amounts of smoke into the stratosphere.
The smoke in the stratosphere had serious consequences for the environment. It remained there for several months, travelling thousands of miles from its source and affecting atmospheric conditions globally. The smoke acted as a shade, reflecting light and resulting in a cooling effect. It also had the potential to damage the ozone layer by displacing the stratosphere's normal, ozone-rich gas and triggering chemical reactions that destroy ozone.
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It caused colourful sunsets
The wildfires in Australia were so intense that the smoke from the fires circled the entire planet. The smoke from the fires had a "dramatic impact" on New Zealand, turning the skies hazy and causing colourful sunrises and sunsets. The skies over Auckland in New Zealand turned bright orange, and the sunsets in Buenos Aires, Argentina, turned red. The smoke also affected cities in South America, with grey skies observed over central Chile.
The wildfires put a lot of extra particles into the atmosphere, which caused the vibrant red sunsets. These particles are extremely small, measuring one-millionth of a meter or less. They make reds and oranges more vibrant by diffusing the other colours on shorter wavelengths. Longer wavelengths of light, like reds and oranges, can pass through the particles, while shorter wavelengths are scattered in a random direction.
The smoke from the Australian wildfires reached high into the atmosphere, where it was transported by winds around the globe. Most weather occurs in the troposphere, which is about 10 kilometres (6 miles) above the Earth's surface. However, the smoke from the Australian wildfires reached the stratosphere, which is a much more stable environment. This allowed the smoke and ash to be caught up in wind patterns and transported around the Earth.
The impact of the smoke from the Australian wildfires on global atmospheric conditions is still being studied. However, experts warn that it could cause air quality and health problems. Wildfire smoke can cause hundreds of thousands of premature deaths on average every year, primarily in Southeast Asia due to prolonged exposure. The smoke from the Australian wildfires has affected air quality throughout the region and contributed to hazardous air quality in major cities in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
The smoke from the Australian wildfires travelled across the Southern Ocean, circumnavigating the globe and reaching its place of origin.
The smoke had a "dramatic impact" on New Zealand, where it turned skies hazy and caused colourful sunrises and sunsets. It also travelled across the Pacific Ocean to South America, turning skies grey over central Chile and causing the sunset in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, to turn red. The smoke may have also reached the Antarctic.
The smoke from the Australian wildfires reached the stratosphere, as high as 17.7km (11 miles) and even 35km according to some sources.
