A Swiss Meteo air testing station in Payerne, Switzerland has detected ash from Portugal’s forest fire.
© Ruigouveia | Dreamstime.com
On 21 June 2017, the first traces were detected over the Swiss plateau by a remote detection device in Payerne. The fire in the Pedrogao Grande forest in Portugal, started on Saturday 17 April 2017 and continued to burn for five days, killing 64 people and destroying 50 thousand hectares of forest, according to Portuguese newspaper De Leiria.
The fire was started by lightening, according to local officials. 40 degree heat, dry conditions and strong winds allowed the flames to spread quickly.
Swiss Meteo said that ash was initally pushed several kilometres vertically allowing it to be blown across much of Europe. The ash took four days to reach Switzerland.
Along with Payerne, ash was detected at a measurement station at Jungfraujoch (3,580 m). Where it could also be seen with a naked eye.
According to Swiss Meteo the ash adds to existing pollution without presenting any particular health risk. But its opacity could reduce the output of solar panels, and it is likely to stay over Switzerland until at least Sunday.
More on this:
Swiss Meteo article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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