Aerosols over São Paulo

The animation shows aerosols over Brazil. When breathed in these small particles can lead to cardiovascular conditions and lung problems. Aerosols also affect the climate by scattering and absorbing of incoming sunlight and trapping of outgoing long-wave radiation – and hence warming the planet. On 19–20 August the smoke from fires got so bad that the day appeared to be turned into night as São Paulo was plunged into darkness.

Read more: Monitoring air pollution from fires