Pollution soars as Australia burns
Bushfires ravaging in at least three states in Australia have sent pollution levels up by tenfold, greater than those often experienced in major cities.
SYDNEY — A massive smoke plume stretching across much of north-western Australia has sent pollution levels soaring even as officials in New South Wales state issued warnings about the worst ever bushfire season.
Fuelled largely by bush-fires ravaging the Kimberly district of Western Australia, the smoke has driven pollution levels up by tenfold and can be seen clearly in satellite images, said a report released on Tuesday by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
"There is so much smoke in the air at the moment that this part of the country is suffering air pollution levels greater than those often experienced in major cities," said Dr Ross Mitchell from CSIRO Atmospheric Research.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner Phil Koperburg says there are strong fears that this year’s bushfire season could be the worst on record, with hundreds of fires already scorching large tracts of land in three states, threatening homes and an oil refinery in Sydney.
Already, a quarter of a million hectares of land has been consumed by bushfires and about 70 fires are still burning between the Hunter Valley and the Queensland border, says a report by ABC News Online.
The Australian Army has mobilised its two Chinook helicopters to help combat bushfires in the Oxley Wild
Rivers National Park.
They will carry crews to various parts of the raging fire, burning in a circumference of 150 km and which has destroyed at least 55,000 ha of land.
Further north, the fire has entered the Washpool National Park, which has a world heritage listing. Over 60 firefighters and seven aircraft are currently struggling to bring it under control.
Arsonists and farmer burnoffs are responsible for most of the fires, says Commissioner Kopcrburg.
The fire situation has been aggravated by especially wet weather.
Reports by the CSIRO point out that above average rainfall during the wet season between November last year and April this year led to rapid vegetation growth in typically barren inland areas.
The massive smoke plume could also have adverse effects on regional climate, said Dr Mitchell.
"As well as the air quality problems, the smoke is likely to affect regional climate, causing localised temporary cooling," he said.
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface would also be reduced.
"Airborne particles can change the properties of clouds, further affecting climate, including rainfall patterns.
"People often regard Australia’s air as pristine, but at times we do have high pollution levels, even in remote regions," added Dr Mitchell.
Source : The Straits Times, Oct 19, 2000
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