Carbon Monoxide Hazard on Amazon

A NASA satellite has shown that ongoing fires in the Amazon rainforest are releasing alarming amounts of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. NASA collected new data using the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), measuring carbon monoxide levels between 5,500 metres altitude from 8-22 August, with results shared at a press conference. The AIRS instrument, positioned on NASA's Aqua satellite, measures atmospheric temperature and humidity, cloud amount and heights, greenhouse gas concentrations and many other atmospheric conditions, as explained at the press conference. According to animation of the new data, carbon monoxide is rising in the atmosphere, with green, yellow and dark red colours indicating the concentration of the gas in parts per billion by volume. As a pollutant capable of travelling long distances and remaining in the atmosphere for a month, carbon monoxide plays a significant role in climate change. Source: NASA