With a total estimated carbon footprint of 270 million tonnes, wildfire emissions were the single biggest source of greenhouse gases that year.
Canada's forests are relied on heavily to absorb the carbon dioxide we emit when we burn fossil fuels, but when those same forests burn, much of that trapped carbon gets released back into the air.
But they were not included when Canada tallied its total emissions for the year, because wildfires aren't considered to be directly under human control. Rebecca Hornbrook, an atmospheric chemist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, said wildfire emissions are in many ways part of the natural carbon cycle and shouldn't be viewed the same way we see emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.
Then, between 2010 and 2019, there were closer to 6,000 fires a year. But these burned 504 hectares each, on average.In British Columbia, the average burned area grew from 14 hectares per fire in the 1990s to 237 hectares per fire in the 2010s. In Alberta, it was 123 hectares per fire in the 1990s, compared with 330 hectares per fire in the 2010s.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Emissions from wildfires hit record high in 2021 as climate change drives fire threatWildfire emissions were the single biggest source of greenhouse gases in 2021 but they were not included in Canada’s total emissions because they aren’t directly under human control
Read more »
Bear spotted in west Ottawa neighbourhoodOttawa police said Wednesday they were aware of a bear in Ottawa's Centrepointe neighbourhood.
Read more »
Senior Conservative says foreign interference taskforce didn't work in 2021 electionWalied Soliman, co\u002Dchair of the Conservatives 2021 campaign, said intelligence agencies didn’t give them any indication there was a problem
Read more »
Peterborough man charged in connection with 2021 death of an infantA 29-year-old Peterborough man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of an infant in 2021.
Read more »
Peterborough man charged in connection with 2021 death of an infantA 29-year-old Peterborough man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of an infant in 2021.
Read more »
U.S. State Department to allow House members to view classified Afghanistan documentThe ‘dissent channel’ cable was sent in July 2021, before the U.S.’s chaotic August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan
Read more »