Fires that ravaged Australia in 2019-2020 were so catastrophic that they fueled the massive La Niña weather phenomenon that began in late 2020. A larger cloud layer formed, which further blocked the sun's rays.
This helped cool the temperature of an area of the Pacific Ocean, one of the key ingredients for triggering La Niño. The researchers' findings highlight the importance of incorporating actual emissions from fires into future climate models and weather forecasts. These are expected to multiply with global warming caused by human activities.