Soot and other burned biomass from western wildfires may affect Arctic sea ice
Categories: US NEWS
Soot and other burned biomass from western wildfires may affect Arctic sea ice
Larger and more intense wildfires have a wider impact on the environment as they worsen air quality and cause pollution in surrounding areas. A recent study may reveal the extent to which the effects of wildfires are attenuated. In a study published in Science Advances, researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) found that soot and other burned biomass from wildfires is affecting the Arctic.
Researchers found that wildfires in Colorado and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere could eventually make their way into the Arctic. If this becomes prominent, it could cause ripple effects on climate patterns for the rest of the world – a major concern.
"Sometimes the Arctic can be seen as a region we shouldn't care about because it's so far from where we live, and a dwindling sea ice could lead to more wildfires here , connects us to the Arctic a little more," DeRepentigny said.
After proper analysis, they found that biomass burning emissions had the greatest impact on Arctic sea ice loss when simulated. He compared compulsions between new and previous generations of climate models. There are various ways to forcibly influence a climate model, such as carbon dioxide or methane emissions or solar radiation.
As noted in the study, the researchers found that the main difference is due to the non-linear cloud effects that can emerge when aerosols, tiny particles or liquid droplets from fires interact with Arctic clouds. Forest fires also give rise to many health problems such as prolonged exposure to smoke can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract. There is a risk of serious disorders, such as decreased lung function, bronchitis, exacerbation of asthma and heart failure.