Researchers across Europe are taking to the skies to learn more about the impact of wildfires on air quality. As part of a three-year initiative, the European Biomass Burning Project (EUBURN), led by the Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques (Météo-France / CNRS), is conducting airborne research missions. These missions use aircraft equipped with scientific instruments to study fires and their associated smokes complemented by ground-based MiniMPL lidar measurements to provide smoke concentrations, properties and layer height information.
The special-purpose ATR-42 aircraft was sent up to collect data on wildfires raging in southern France. The fires in Cévennes and Martigues together destroyed nearly 300 hectares of vegetation – an area 1.5 times the size of neighbouring Monaco.
Thanks to Cyrielle Denjean, Researcher at CNRM (Météo-France / CNRS), for her valuable input in helping with the preparation of this article. She is in charge of the EUBURN project.
Beyond the visible damage on the ground, wildfires release a variety of pollutants, including:
While we know these substances harm the environment and human health, but we don’t fully understand their lasting impact on the air.
Our knowledge of how aerosols travel, how long they remain suspended and the extent to which wildfires contribute to overall pollutant levels is unclear.
EUBURN aims to identify and characterize the gaseous compounds and fine particles are released during wildfires and gather data on fire behavior.
The ATR-42 was equipped with various in-situ sensors, remote sensing devices. To avoid interfering with monitoring and water-bomber firefighting planes, the ATR-42 was designed to operate at altitudes between 2,500 and 4,000 meters. This ensures that it operated above the range of water-bomber planes.
Making up part of the technology within the airborne laboratory, is the Droplet SP2 Single Particle Soot Photometer. It is the only instrument in the world that can directly measure black carbon mixing state in individual particles independently and without the use of a filter.
Data from the SP2 is crucial for understanding the composition of pollutants released from fires because it measures concentrations at below 10 ng/m3.
Additionally, it helps track the journey of the pollutants. This is thanks to its ability to fully characterize each individual black carbon particle (mass, size, heat of vaporization, and coating).
By understanding these factors, environmental agencies can work to mitigate their impact on the public health.
The first mission this year already yielded valuable findings.
When wildfires consumed 5 million hectares in Canada this summer, the EUBURN aircraft investigated high-altitude pollution that drifted across the Atlantic to Europe. While it was evident that smoke was present, altering the colour of sunsets – the exact composition of the particles was previously unknown.
The next phase of the program planned for the summers of 2026 and 2027 summers, will expand to Spain and Portugal. These areas are experiencing an increase in so-called “megafires,” which are more erratic than smaller fires. The mission aims to use this information to improve predictive models of how fires burn and the impact of their smoke emissions on air quality, meteorology and climate. This will improve decision-making regarding firefighters operations, populations health, and environmental protection actions.
Although the results of the flights will not be released immediately, EUBURN is a significant advancement. It provides an opportunity to better understand the effects of wildfires emissions on air quality and climate change. This will allow environmental agencies to mitigate the impact of these harmful pollutants and improve public well-being.
En ENVEA, estamos constantemente desarrollando nuevas soluciones para hacer un seguimiento de la calidad del aire y las emisiones, y el impacto y la dispersión de los microplásticos transportados en el aire es cada día más evidente.
Para reducir y prevenir daños futuros, buscamos activamente formas de afrontar este nuevo reto para la salud ambiental.
Si su negocio opera desde Reino Unido, la UE, EE. UU. o Asia, debe saber que en el horizonte de 2025 se vislumbran cambios en las normas y reglamentos ambientales.
