2024-09-06 15:57:00
Favored by a severe drought, the increase in forest fires in the Pantanal and the Amazon has caused carbon emissions in these regions in recent months, according to a new study by the Copernicus Observatory of the European Union.
Even with only data until September 3, the state of Amazonas has broken the annual record for emissions from fire in the historical series, which began in 2003, with 23.2 megatons of carbon. The values of the last eight months have exceeded the emissions of the previous record in 2022, which was 22.7 megatons. In the Pantanal, the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul have exceeded the emissions recorded for the period from January to the beginning of September of the previous 21 years.
The Bolivian Pantanal has also been affected by fires. With three months to go until the end of the year, emissions related to forest fires in Bolivia have already made 2024 break the annual record in the Copernicus records. “With the peak of the light season still this month, values will rise further,” said Mark Parrington, senior scientist at Copernicus’ CAMS.
The current fire season in South America is classified as “critical” by the article’s most recent bulletin. “Hot and widespread fires in Bolivia and Brazil, including the Pantanal region, which is home to the largest humid region in the world. The region has been affected by large fires since the last days of May and continued throughout July, July and especially August,” the document said.
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