Canadian Smoke Over Austria: Why Our Sky Suddenly Looks Milky

The smoke from Canada is here!

Yes, you read that right. The massive smoke clouds rising from the devastating wildfires in Canada have indeed made their way across the Atlantic to Europe. It sounds crazy at first, but it's a phenomenon that can happen under certain weather conditions.

High-altitude winds pick up the fine smoke particles and transport them over thousands of kilometers. This journey can take several days, but in the end, the particles can descend over distant regions and discolor the sky.

Canada is currently battling a wildfire season of historic proportions, which has already threatened entire towns and forced tens of thousands of people to flee. The sheer amounts of rising smoke are the reason why these effects are noticeable even in Europe.

What does this mean for you? Mainly, it's a visual effect. The milky or slightly yellowish haze is the most visible sign. The concentration of smoke particles here in Austria is so low that it is not expected to pose any immediate health risks, as it would near the fires.

It is an impressive and perhaps also unsettling sign of how interconnected the environment on our planet is. A fire on another continent can change our sky.

So, the next time you see this unusual haze in the sky, remember: This is the long journey of smoke from the wildfires in Canada. A little piece of North America above your head.

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.