Vast wildfires in central South America are causing carbon emissions not seen in nearly 20 years, the European Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) said on Thursday.
“Analysis shows that fire levels in Paraguay and Argentina between January 1 and February 28 reached record numbers in terms of carbon emissions since the beginning of 2003, when the data series began” from CAMS, reports the statement. .
The heat radiation power of these fires in the middle of the summer season in Paraguay, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela also set records, “significantly above the 2003-2021 average”, completes the text.
The CAMS graphs show that, in the first two months of the year, CO2 emissions from forest fires in Paraguay reached 5 megatons, five times more than in the same period of the previous year. And, in the case of total Argentine emissions, they reached at least 12 megatons, almost six times more.
Copernicus also monitors wildfires in Colombia and Venezuela during the dry season. These fires usually start in February and persist until April, says the European body.
“CAMS continues to monitor South America for La Niña (weather) conditions, which, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), will continue in March and May,” the observatory’s statement added.
Unlike El Niño, this phenomenon causes major droughts. The Argentine province of Corrientes, for example, is currently facing its worst drought in 60 years. More than half of the Iberá National Park (195,000 hectares) was consumed by the flames.
