Smoke engulfs large parts of South America
Several countries in South America have been severely affected by a thick smoke cloud caused by the wildfires ravaging the Amazon rainforest since August 2024.
In Brazil alone, the number of fires hotspots reached a total of 152,383 in August, a worrisome 103% increase over to the same period in 2023.
The dense smoke has raised significant concerns about air quality and public health in numerous regions. In cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, authorities have issued warnings about hazardous air conditions. In Argentina, residents have been advised to take precautions against the fallout of particulate matter in the event of rainfall.
In this image acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 9 September 2024, we can see the smoke cloud hovering over parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
The spatial and temporal resolution of the free and open data provided by the Copernicus Sentinel satellites supports the monitoring of wildfires and their impacts around the world. Furthermore, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service delivers key information on the emissions of wildfires as well as forecasts which predict the concentration and transport of smoke in the atmosphere.
