The Arctic is experiencing a surge in wildfires, driven by hot and dry weather conditions, leading to the release of massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) shows that the majority of these fires are concentrated in the Sakha Republic in Russia’s Far North. These seasonal fires, intensified by rising Arctic temperatures due to climate change, are spreading north, consuming tundra and boreal forests. The fires release greenhouse gases from the carbon-rich soil, exacerbating the climate crisis. The Sakha Republic has experienced significantly higher temperatures and drier conditions than usual, creating ideal conditions for wildfires.
“Fire emissions in the Arctic have been at fairly typical levels for the last three summers but we have observed the recent fires developing following warmer and drier conditions, similar to the widespread wildfires in 2019 and 2020,” says Mark Parrington, senior scientist at CAMS. “This is the third time since 2019 that we are observing significant Arctic wildfires and showed that this northeast region of the Arctic has experienced the largest increase in extreme wildfires over the last two decades.”
By June 24th, over 160 wildfires had burned nearly 460,000 hectares of land, according to Andrey Konoplevhe, the region’s deputy minister of ecology, nature management and forestry, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS. CAMS estimates that these wildfires released a total of 6.8 megatonnes of carbon, placing them as the third highest monthly emissions in the past two decades. The fires only fall behind 2020 and 2019, when 16.3 megatonnes and 13.8 megatonnes of carbon were released, respectively. Wildfires in the Northern Hemisphere typically reach their peak during July and August.
These fires have far-reaching consequences, extending beyond the local region. They significantly impact the Earth’s entire climate system. “The Artic is ground zero for climate change and the increasing risk of Siberian wildfires are a clear warning sign that this essential system is approaching dangerous climate tipping points,” says Gail Whiteman, professor at the University of Exeter and founder of non-profit science organisation Arctic Basecamp. “What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay there – Arctic change amplifies risks globally for all of us. These fires are a warning cry for urgent action.”
