What the Canadian wildfires say about the future of our planet
If you live in the Northeast or Midwest regions of the United States, you’ve probably witnessed firsthand the long-reaching effects of smoke from recent Canadian wildfires—orange, hazy skies, a smoky smell in the air, and pounding headaches every time you step outside. Of course, the individuals located where the wildfires originated have experienced even more devastating and long-lasting effects. While these post-apocalyptic days are no longer in the forefront of most Americans’ minds, these events paint a worrying picture for what our world might look like just a few years in the future.
LIke many other regions in the world, wildlife conditions across Canada were created and exacerbated by the effects of climate change, which include warming temperatures and droughts. According to an article in CBS News, it is likely that most of the Canadian wildfires were caused by lightning strikes, which become more common with even a small increase in temperature. These fires have burnt millions of acres of land across Canada and severely affected air quality as air currents blow smoke south.
According to an article in Science News, wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that is small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream. It also can contain other pollutants such as ozone, benzene, and formaldehyde, but it is not clear yet whether the smoke contains enough of these gases to cause immediate health effects. Inhaling wildfire smoke and particulates causes notable respiratory effects, especially in those with preexisting conditions. There’s even some evidence to suggest that this smoke can have negative effects on developing fetuses. However, the extent to which wildfire smoke negatively affects populations is dependent on the length of the exposure period.
Furthermore, if you are familiar with the mechanisms that drive climate change, you may have noticed something about the link between wildfires and climate change. Because trees are organic matter, wildfires release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, increased amounts of it in the atmosphere contribute to the warming of the earth. With warming temperatures, of course, comes more wildfires, and so on—creating something called a positive feedback loop. Positive feedback loops are uncommon in nature, because unlike the more common negative feedback loops, they cannot regulate themselves. Their effects become causes of the same effects, and can quickly spiral out of control.
These occurrences demonstrate how, even with an immediate decrease in carbon emissions, the effects of climate change will still continue to be felt for generations to come. We have already done irreparable damage to our planet, and positive solutions need to be created to combat it.