The Australian wildfires were some of the worst on record
SAEED KHAN AFP/File
Issued on: 15/09/2021 -
Paris (AFP)
Devastating Australian wildfires released twice as much climate-warming C02 than previously thought -- but also triggered vast algae blooms thousands of miles away that may have soaked up significant extra carbon, according to studies published Wednesday.
Severe summer heat and drought helped spark the fires from late 2019 to early 2020 that killed 33 people and tens of millions of wild animals, while destroying vast swathes of eucalyptus forest.
These "Black Summer" fires, which enveloped Sydney and other cities in smoke and ash for months, were known to have released huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but the exact amount was difficult to quantify.
To find out, researchers in the Netherlands used new satellite technology that can monitor the gases released during a fire on a daily basis.
They produced estimates of overall emissions as well as carbon dioxide released, concluding that the amount was more than twice previously estimated from five different fire inventories.
"We found that the CO2 emissions from this single event were significantly higher than what all Australians normally emit with the combustion of fossil fuels in an entire year," said Ivar van der Velde of the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, lead author of the paper published in the journal Nature.
Issued on: 15/09/2021 -
Paris (AFP)
Devastating Australian wildfires released twice as much climate-warming C02 than previously thought -- but also triggered vast algae blooms thousands of miles away that may have soaked up significant extra carbon, according to studies published Wednesday.
Severe summer heat and drought helped spark the fires from late 2019 to early 2020 that killed 33 people and tens of millions of wild animals, while destroying vast swathes of eucalyptus forest.
These "Black Summer" fires, which enveloped Sydney and other cities in smoke and ash for months, were known to have released huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but the exact amount was difficult to quantify.
To find out, researchers in the Netherlands used new satellite technology that can monitor the gases released during a fire on a daily basis.
They produced estimates of overall emissions as well as carbon dioxide released, concluding that the amount was more than twice previously estimated from five different fire inventories.
"We found that the CO2 emissions from this single event were significantly higher than what all Australians normally emit with the combustion of fossil fuels in an entire year," said Ivar van der Velde of the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, lead author of the paper published in the journal Nature.
2019 - 2020 Australian fires AFP
While it was still uncertain, he said "given current trends in global warming, we believe it is quite possible that we will see more of these types of large wildfires in Australia, and possibly elsewhere.
"This will likely contribute to even more CO2 in the atmosphere than expected."
Wildfires are consistent with a warmer world, as climate change makes droughts and heatwaves more frequent and intense.
Depending on the amount of C02 that is drawn back into plants as they regrow, the emissions could help drive further warming.
- 'Fertilise the ocean' -
The fires also released aerosols transporting nitrogen and iron particles that can spur ocean "blooms" of microscopic algae, called phytoplankton.
In a separate study in Nature, researchers found that high levels of iron pumped into the air by the fires were blown huge distances, eventually causing a significant increase in phytoplankton in the Pacific Ocean thousands of kilometres from Australia.
Previous studies have suggested wildfires could seed algae blooms, said co-author Joan Llort, of the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.
But he said the "most surprising thing was the magnitude" revealed in the research, with blooms covering an area larger than Australia itself.
Phytoplankton perform a crucial role in the global climate, taking in C02 as they photosynthesise in a process similar to plants.
Part of that carbon eventually sinks into the deep ocean and is stored.
"Our results provide evidence that iron from wildfires can fertilise the ocean, potentially leading to a significant increase in carbon uptake by phytoplankton," said co-author Nicolas Cassar, of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University.
But he said finding out whether the amount to which the fire emissions could be offset by C02 absorbed by micro algae blooms seeded by the fires is the "Holy Grail" of the research and still uncertain.
© 2021 AFP
While it was still uncertain, he said "given current trends in global warming, we believe it is quite possible that we will see more of these types of large wildfires in Australia, and possibly elsewhere.
"This will likely contribute to even more CO2 in the atmosphere than expected."
Wildfires are consistent with a warmer world, as climate change makes droughts and heatwaves more frequent and intense.
Depending on the amount of C02 that is drawn back into plants as they regrow, the emissions could help drive further warming.
- 'Fertilise the ocean' -
The fires also released aerosols transporting nitrogen and iron particles that can spur ocean "blooms" of microscopic algae, called phytoplankton.
In a separate study in Nature, researchers found that high levels of iron pumped into the air by the fires were blown huge distances, eventually causing a significant increase in phytoplankton in the Pacific Ocean thousands of kilometres from Australia.
Previous studies have suggested wildfires could seed algae blooms, said co-author Joan Llort, of the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.
But he said the "most surprising thing was the magnitude" revealed in the research, with blooms covering an area larger than Australia itself.
Phytoplankton perform a crucial role in the global climate, taking in C02 as they photosynthesise in a process similar to plants.
Part of that carbon eventually sinks into the deep ocean and is stored.
"Our results provide evidence that iron from wildfires can fertilise the ocean, potentially leading to a significant increase in carbon uptake by phytoplankton," said co-author Nicolas Cassar, of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University.
But he said finding out whether the amount to which the fire emissions could be offset by C02 absorbed by micro algae blooms seeded by the fires is the "Holy Grail" of the research and still uncertain.
© 2021 AFP
Australia issued fresh emissions warning in new OECD report
The federal government has responded to the report by repeating its commitment to a technology-driven approach to reaching net zero as soon as possible, preferably by 2050.
Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann.
READ MORE
Backlash after Australia watered down climate change pledge in UK trade deal
“The survey acknowledges that 'strong institutions are already in place to support these aims',” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said the report showed the government is not taking action on climate change seriously.
“There are real consequences of this. Australia needs to do more on climate change,” he told reporters.
Scott Morrison says Australia won't sign 'blank cheque' to reduce emissions after dire climate change warning
The OECD noted Australia continues to have a high reliance on fossil fuels, with oil, coal and natural gas accounting for about 93 per cent of primary energy supply. It added there is “significant scope” for further increases in renewable energy in Australia, given the share remains low compared with other OECD countries.
In other observations, the OECD said Australia had largely weathered the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic better than most developed countries, but recent outbreaks of the virus mean the country is not out of the woods yet.
It largely praised Australia’s fiscal response to the crisis, but flagged post-pandemic reforms are still needed to address long-standing challenges such as stagnating productivity growth and growth in living standards.
One reform put forward is further raising Australia's unemployment benefit rate - which is one of the lowest in the OECD and below estimates of the relative poverty line.
The federal government has responded to the report by repeating its commitment to a technology-driven approach to reaching net zero as soon as possible, preferably by 2050.
Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann.
Source: EPA POOL
Australia has been told its economic future will be more secure if it decarbonises the economy, and given a fresh warning emissions must be reduced at a "significantly faster pace" in order to reach net zero by 2050.
The notes came in a review of the Australian economy released on Wednesday by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is now overseen by former coalition minister Mathias Cormann.
The report - the first of its kind since December 2018 - considered Australia’s approach to reducing carbon emissions as part of a broader analysis of the nation's economic conditions.
It said the adoption of a stronger nationally integrated approach is required to secure Australia’s pathway to net zero, and mounts a case the country's biggest emitting sectors - energy, transport and agriculture - should be targeted with more ambitious emissions reduction policies.
Joe Biden to talk climate change with Scott Morrison at upcoming White House meeting
The report also identifies Australia as being “uniquely vulnerable” to climate change and “uniquely placed” to benefit economically from global decarbonisation.
World leaders are currently preparing to meet in Glasgow for a United Nations climate summit in November, where Australia's emissions targets are expected to come under renewed scrutiny.
The federal government has responded to the findings of the OECD report by repeating its commitment to a technology-driven approach to reaching net zero as soon as possible, preferably by 2050.
Australia has been told its economic future will be more secure if it decarbonises the economy, and given a fresh warning emissions must be reduced at a "significantly faster pace" in order to reach net zero by 2050.
The notes came in a review of the Australian economy released on Wednesday by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is now overseen by former coalition minister Mathias Cormann.
The report - the first of its kind since December 2018 - considered Australia’s approach to reducing carbon emissions as part of a broader analysis of the nation's economic conditions.
It said the adoption of a stronger nationally integrated approach is required to secure Australia’s pathway to net zero, and mounts a case the country's biggest emitting sectors - energy, transport and agriculture - should be targeted with more ambitious emissions reduction policies.
Joe Biden to talk climate change with Scott Morrison at upcoming White House meeting
The report also identifies Australia as being “uniquely vulnerable” to climate change and “uniquely placed” to benefit economically from global decarbonisation.
World leaders are currently preparing to meet in Glasgow for a United Nations climate summit in November, where Australia's emissions targets are expected to come under renewed scrutiny.
The federal government has responded to the findings of the OECD report by repeating its commitment to a technology-driven approach to reaching net zero as soon as possible, preferably by 2050.
READ MORE
Backlash after Australia watered down climate change pledge in UK trade deal
“The survey acknowledges that 'strong institutions are already in place to support these aims',” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said the report showed the government is not taking action on climate change seriously.
“There are real consequences of this. Australia needs to do more on climate change,” he told reporters.
Scott Morrison says Australia won't sign 'blank cheque' to reduce emissions after dire climate change warning
The OECD noted Australia continues to have a high reliance on fossil fuels, with oil, coal and natural gas accounting for about 93 per cent of primary energy supply. It added there is “significant scope” for further increases in renewable energy in Australia, given the share remains low compared with other OECD countries.
In other observations, the OECD said Australia had largely weathered the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic better than most developed countries, but recent outbreaks of the virus mean the country is not out of the woods yet.
It largely praised Australia’s fiscal response to the crisis, but flagged post-pandemic reforms are still needed to address long-standing challenges such as stagnating productivity growth and growth in living standards.
One reform put forward is further raising Australia's unemployment benefit rate - which is one of the lowest in the OECD and below estimates of the relative poverty line.
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