Smoke from Australia's fires blew 1,200 miles southeast across the Tasman Sea, smothering New Zealand's South Island and turning the sun an ominous red on Wednesday. People all across the island reported the strong smell of smoke, from Christchurch to Queenstown and beyond.
"It's been happening for quite some time since the Aussie bushfires have been going," meteorologist Aidan Pyselman told New Zealand news website Stuff in an article published Dec. 31. "At the moment it's definitely more noticeable, especially over the South Island."
Latest satellite map (attached) is quite surreal for #NewZealand with thick orange smoke/dust smothering the Tasman Sea and the South Island.
You can find the latest air pollution map and several photos in the story here: https://t.co/6dliCzbsld pic.twitter.com/ESINxdZiHK— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) December 31, 2019
The haze also travelled up to the North Island, covering New Zealand's capital Wellington with a gray veil. Fortunately it had thinned a bit by Thursday, and the skies are expected to clear up further as wind blows the smoke out over the Pacific Ocean.
However, New Zealanders won't be able to breathe easy just yet. Smaller plumes of smoke will continue to harass the country until Sunday, and it's likely that attacks on New Zealand's air quality will remain a threat until Australia's fires die down.
Same valley, 1 day apart.
31st Dec 2019 crystal clear
1st Jan 2020 hell
Matukituki Valley, Wanaka #NZ pic.twitter.com/1TcATFblsZ— paul le comte (@five15design) January 1, 2020
Dunedin 2020: Blade Runner Edition. pic.twitter.com/1qmU8Hbrra— Chris (@opetheater) December 31, 2019
This is the view from my parents house in #Wanaka NZ this morning, where the smoke from the #ausfires has reached them now. The bottom is what it should look like. The reach of these fires is incredible pic.twitter.com/pxDpvInaec— Chris Binney (@ChrisBinney) December 31, 2019
This the view from the top of the Tasman Glacier NZ today - whole South island experiencing bushfire clouds. We can actually smell the burning here in Christchurch. Thinking of you guys. 😢#nswbushfire #AustralianFires #AustraliaBurning pic.twitter.com/iCzOGkou4o— Miss Roho (@MissRoho) January 1, 2020
Just been to Milford Sound in NZ. It smells of smoke because of the Australian fires. pic.twitter.com/Z0GAW9FSan— Carrick Ryan (@realCarrickRyan) January 1, 2020
If you still weren’t sure how bad the Australia #Bushfires were, my brother took this photo today.... he lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The smoke is covering NEW ZEALAND now. This is horrific. pic.twitter.com/qRi2hIl1xX— Couch Nish (@CouchNish) January 1, 2020
This is the sky in Christchurch today. That red dot is the sun. The smoke from the Australian bushfires is literally blotting out the sky and reducing visibility in a country an ocean away. Can 2020 be the year where #ClimateChange is actually addressed? Please? pic.twitter.com/DDELxjuV1O— Sunfire (@Sunfire_SG) January 1, 2020
In Christchurch... the smoke from NSW and Victoria has made its way here. I just wish it would rain across the whole of Australia and put them all out! That was the sun at 3pm!! #AustraliaFires #bushfirecrisis pic.twitter.com/BGJDkapk35— Annie Pappalardo (@Annieb25) January 1, 2020
Thick smoke from Australia's #bushfirecrisis has made its way to NZ, with 📷 showing white glaciers blanketed by a haze.
Rey, an Aussie in Wellington, took 📷 of the "caramelised snow" caused by dust near Franz Josef Glacier, on South Island.#AustralianFires #ausfires #NSWfires pic.twitter.com/n5dc56m7FV— Fiona Bateman (@feebateman) January 2, 2020
Australia's bushfires have killed 18 people, including seven in New South Wales over the past week. At least 1,400 homes have been destroyed and 11 million acres burned, with almost half a billion animals believed dead.
The unprecedented bushfires have been fuelled by hot, dry conditions across the country. Drought, strong winds, and record-breaking heat have baked Australia into perfect kindling — conditions many Australians blame on climate change.
“Just a 1C [1.8 degrees Fahrenheit] temperature rise has meant the extremes are far more extreme, and it is placing lives at risk, including firefighters,” former NSW Fire and Rescue chief Greg Mullins said in November. “Climate change has supercharged the bushfire problem.”
---30---
No comments:
Post a Comment