Aerosol particles in high smoke plumes reflect more light back into space. Closer to Earth’s surface, there is more oxygen to absorb light at the 688 nanometer wavelength, so less light is reflected.

Updated global data show wildfire smoke pollution is higher than past estimates, with implications for air quality and ...

Canada wildfire smoke is impacting air quality across a dozen U.S. states, primarily in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions. Air quality is expected to remain poor through Wednesday, Aug. 6, with ...

Wildfire smoke from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia has severely impacted air quality in eastern Washington. Winds from the east and northeast have largely contained the smoke east of the ...

Wildfire smoke is no longer just a short‑lived air quality problem drifting over cities for a few hazy days. New research ...

We now live in the Pyrocene, a proposed new geologic epoch of high wildfire activity brought about by human-caused climate change. The occurrence of extreme fire weather is now roughly double compared ...

Pollution from wildfire smoke is increasing in the United States. Climate change is projected to exacerbate the problem, leading to 70,000 premature deaths each year by 2050. If no extra measures are ...

If you liked this story, share it with other people. A new Nature study projects wildfire smoke will cause 71,000 excess deaths annually in the U.S. by 2050, representing $608 billion in damages that ...