Summary:
- Wildfire smoke from the 2020 Australian bushfires created a new type of atmospheric particle that has never been observed before.
- These particles, called pyrocumulonimbus particles, were formed when the intense heat from the wildfires caused water vapor and other materials to condense and form cloud-like structures in the atmosphere.
- The discovery of these unique particles helps scientists better understand how wildfires can impact the atmosphere and climate, and how these events may become more common due to climate change.