UrBC, Yekaterinburg, August 12, 2010. Carbon monoxide, one of the most toxic components of the poisonous mix that is released in the air during fires, is gradually building up into a sort of ring in the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Such was the conclusion made by NASA upon the basis of data provided by its Aqua satellite which is fitted wit a special infrared sensor. The carbon monoxide content comes to about 160:1,000,000,000 in these regions now; the main culprits are the forest and peat fires in Russia and Canada, RIA Novosti says.
Scientists reported earlier that the total carbon monoxide content in the air in Russia’s European parts increases by 700,000 tons daily. At the beginning of the month, the total mass of carbon monoxide over Russia came to over 15 million tons and nearly reached the record set eight years ago.
According to Echo Moskvy, NASA satellites have recorded almost 500 seats of fire on the Russian territory, with the greatest numbers of fires located in Sverdlovsk Region, Nizhniy Novgorod Region, and Yakutia.