Australia - Victoria Bushfires At 1 Million Ha; Unbelievable Satellite Image Of Smoke Plumes

[hatrack]

Satellite Photo

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5357862,00.jpg

VICTORIA'S monster bushfires have generated the power of more than 100 atomic bombs and pumped out millions of tonnes of pollution, greenhouse gas and toxic clouds, scientists say.
The tens of million of tonnes of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere by the 1 million ha blaze exceed the combined emissions of the state's power stations, industry and cars by about 30 percent, according to figures compiled for the Herald Sun online by the CSIRO.

Victoria produced about 7.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the past month from burning coal, petrol and gas; while bushfires raging in the same time pumped out 10.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

CSIRO atmospheric scientist Mick Meyer said the emissions from Victorian fires were about 10 times normal. The fires also generated 2.5 million tonnes of carbon monoxide; 300,000 tonnes of volatile organic compounds such as benzene, formaldehyde and hydrocarbons; 85,000 tonnes of methane; 64,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides; and 59,000 tonnes of smoke, Dr Meyer's calculations show.

EDIT

http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,,21047926-661,00.html