Rising up to 14 miles (23km) into the air, well into the stratosphere, plumes of smoke from large wildfires can spread all over the globe thanks to currents of air. These impacts on the ground can be hard to bear, but wildfires can have another far-reaching effect on our lives. Could this bring wildfires under control?.This year California, Washington and Oregon are fighting deadly wildfires that have burned millions of acres of land – up to 400 hectares (1,000 acres) are burning every 30 minutes – and destroyed thousands of homes. Beset by a prolonged drought, the state experienced its most destructive and deadliest fires in recorded history during 20. And this August, thousands of lightning strikes triggered hundreds of fires across California, leading to a state of emergency being declared as the flames threatened densly populated residential areas. Three billion animals were killed or displaced. It claimed the lives of 33 people, destroyed thousands of homes and saw 18 million hectares (69,500 square miles) burned. In the first few months of 2020, Australia grappled with the worst wildfire season in its history. And when the flames reach areas inhabited by people, they can claim many lives and homes of those unlucky enough to be caught in their path. Countless animals caught up in the flames and smoke perish. Swathes of forest and peatland are destroyed. The destruction this leads to is undeniable. Nasa has warned that abnormally warm temperatures in eastern Siberia – particularly in the Sakha Republic, more than 1,250 miles (2,000km) away from Krasnoyarsk – have led to more intense and widespread fires than normal. Since the start of 2020, Russia has seen an estimated 19 million hectares (73,359 square miles) consumed by wildfires, according to Greenpeace International’s analysis of satellite images. Behind it, charred trees stand like blackened toothpicks while columns of smoke choke the air, rising high up into the atmosphere. But in daylight, at close range, the devastation wrought by the fires in the Krasnoyarsk region of Siberia is harrowing.Ī wall of blistering flames engulfs the vegetation. Golden yellow tendrils etched across the dark forest landscape below. From far above, they almost look beautiful.
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