Record-breaking fires engulf South America, bringing black rain, green rivers and toxic air to the continent
By María de los Ángeles Orfila
published 3 hours ago
The Amazon fires, fueled by severe drought exacerbated by climate change, have created a toxic smoke cloud spanning about 4 million square miles — an area larger than the entire United States.
A house destroyed by fires in Sao Paulo state, Brazil, on Aug. 25, 2024. (Image credit: CARLOS FABAL/AFP via Getty Images)
South America is experiencing record-breaking fires, which have led to "black rain," green rivers and hazardous air pollution almost 50 times higher than the level recommended by the World Health Organization, according to the air quality monitoring company IQair.
Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 16, the continent recorded 364,485 forest fires, surpassing the 2007 record of 345,322 fires, according to data from the Brazilian Space Research Institute and Reuters.
The historic drought in the Amazon has worsened the spread of the fires. Many of the fires have been attributed to human activity, but the drought has created favorable conditions for their rapid spread. As a result, 60% of Brazil's territory is currently affected by smoke.
Including neighboring countries and the Atlantic Ocean, the area impacted by the toxic cloud now spans 4 million square miles (10 million square kilometers) — an area larger than the entire United States.
More:
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/record-breaking-fires-engulf-south-america-bringing-black-rain-green-rivers-and-toxic-air-to-the-continent