Fires in the Amazon create "fire clouds" over the Atlantic

The high concentration aerosol stains (suspended particles) in the Atlantic Ocean are one of the consequences of the large fires that have hit the Amazon.

This phenomenon has been observed by NASA's Suomi NPP satellite and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Noaa, for its acronym in English).

Fires in the great jungle of South America have generated smoke that continues to create a long column to the east of the Atlantic Ocean, another variable that adds problems to the climate crisis .

Fires in western Brazil generated Level 2 aerosols on a scale of 5.

And higher aerosol concentrations were observed, up to 4 on the southeastern coast of Brazil.

On September 13th, the highest concentration of aerosols with this origin persisted for thousands of kilometers in the South Atlantic.

Other less intense were located near the coast of Brazil, as shown in the following picture (in yellow colors).

Clouds of fire

Pyro-cumulus clouds, sometimes called "fire clouds", are tall, cauliflower-shaped and appear as opaque white spots that fly over the darkest smoke on the satellite images.

Pyrocluster clouds are similar to cumulus clouds, but heat forces the air to rise.

Under certain circumstances, pyro-cumulus clouds can produce complete thunderstorms, turning them into pyro-cumulonimbus clouds.

Scientists keep a close eye on pyro-cumulus clouds as they can inject smoke and pollutants into the atmosphere.

Since pollutants are dispersed by the wind, they can affect air quality over a large area.

Persistent effect

An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid drops, in the air or in another gas.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, high concentrations of aerosol can not only affect weather conditions and reduce visibility, but also respiration, reproduction, the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system.

Since aerosols can remain suspended in the atmosphere and be transported along the prevailing high wind currents, they can travel great distances to the source and their effects may persist.

Follow the fire

The Brazilian Institute of Space Research (Inpe) of Brazil has detected 42 protected areas and 53 indigenous territories affected by the fire.

This represents an increase since the last measurement on September 4, when it was detected that there were 36 protected areas and 32 affected indigenous territories.

In August, the area burned in the Amazon rose fourfold from August 2018. Last month, about 2.5 million hectares were burned.

"The Amazon, as is also happening in Gran Chaco, is seriously threatened by the advancement of livestock and soybeans, which are mainly exported to Europe and China," said Giardini Hernán. , forestry coordinator of Greenpeace Andino.

He added: "Fires and deforestation are the result of this activity in which large landowners devastate forests, resulting in biodiversity loss, climate change and affecting indigenous communities."