Norwegian officials say smoke from Canadian wildfires that has enveloped parts of the United States and Canada in a thick haze is expected to pour into Norway.
Atmosphere and climate scientists with the Norwegian Climate and Environmental Research Institute used a forecast model to predict how the smoke would travel through the atmosphere.
The smoke has moved over Greenland and Iceland since June 1, and observations in southern Norway have recorded increasing concentrations of aerosolised particles, the research institution said.
“We may be able to see some haze or smell smoke,” Nikolaos Evangeliou, a senior NILU researcher, said.
“However, we do not believe that the number of particles in the air here in Norway will be large enough to be harmful to our health.”
Kjetil Tørseth, research director with NILU, said that with “the increasing temperatures due to climate change, forest fires are likely to be more common and of a larger magnitude”.
Allies from around the world have promised to increase their help to Canada in its fight against hundreds of blazes that have swept through the country in its worst-ever start to wildfire season.
Forest fires that have gathered strength over the last month have forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and sent a smoky haze billowing over a large swath of the US.
About 4.3 million hectares have already burned, roughly 15 times the annual average of the past decade.
Warm, dry conditions are expected to persist in the months ahead.
The fires have impacted mining operations in Canada and disrupted flights in the US.
On Thursday the Toronto District School Board, Canada’s largest, rescheduled or moved indoors all outside activities, including field trips and local school events.
The US has sent hundreds of firefighters to Canada over the past few weeks and has said more help is on its way.
US President Joe Biden, in a statement on Thursday, said he has directed his administration to respond promptly to requests for additional firefighters and fire suppression assets.
Help has also come in from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that France, Portugal and Spain were also sending more than 280 firefighters to Canada.
— AAP with Reuters
