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Articles on Smoke

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Forest fires were mostly started by lightning. Their spread was then exacerbated by a lack of precipitation and abnormally high temperatures. (Victor Danneyrolles)

Québec’s summer 2023 wildfires were the most devastating in 50 years. Is the worst yet to come?

The forest fires of the summer of 2023 in Québec were devastating. It was the worst year in 50 years. But with climate change, the worst may be yet to come.
AAP

‘You’re constantly worrying’: pregnant women, bushfire smoke and the impossibility of safety

If you were pregnant or parenting during Australia’s 2019–20 summer of smoke and fire, chances are you felt acutely anxious – and grappling with impossible responsibility.
Thick wildfire smoke blankets the landscape near Water Valley, Alta., in May 2023. Evidence linking wildfire smoke with adverse health effects has been accumulating for years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Wildfire smoke is an increasing threat to Canadians’ health

The notion that wildfire smoke is ‘natural,’ and therefore less harmful than other types of air pollution, is not supported by the evidence. Wildfire smoke has been linked to adverse health effects.
Thick smoke rolling in from Canada’s 2023 wildfires was a wakeup call for several cities. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images

AI can help forecast air quality, but freak events like 2023’s summer of wildfire smoke require traditional methods too

Air quality forecasting is getting better, thanks in part to AI. That’s good, given the health impact of air pollution. An environmental engineer explains how systems warn of incoming smog or smoke.
Smoke from wildfires hangs over Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 6. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Wildfire smoke FAQ: What’s happening with air quality right now and why? What are the risks? How do I protect myself short-term? What about long-term protection? Is this the ‘new normal?’

Answers to some of the most common questions about wildfire smoke, health risks and the air quality situation affecting most of North America.
Thick smoke fills the air and nearly blocks out the sun, east of Kamloops, B.C., on Aug. 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Wildfire smoke may warm the Earth for longer than we thought

Brown carbon refers to a range of pollutants found in smoke from wildfires. They can contribute to global warming before they undergo a process that alters their chemical properties.
Bad air pollution and extreme heat each raise health risks, but they’re worse combined. Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Extreme heat and air pollution can be deadly, with the health risk together worse than either alone

The worst effects are during high nighttime temperatures, something happening more often with climate change. Wildfire smoke adds to the risk.

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