Catastrophic wildfires in Australia are pushing global carbon dioxide levels to new highs, scientists have warned.

The UK’s Met Office predicted 2020 would see one of the largest annual jumps of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since records began, with the raging bushfires blamed for up to a fifth of the increase.

Fossil fuel burning and changes in land use are also driving the rise and worsening global warming, the meteorological agency said in its yearly forecast of carbon concentration, which has been measured at the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii since 1958.

The level of CO₂ in the atmosphere is expected to peak at 417 parts per million (ppm) in May, before settling at an average of 414ppm — an increase of 2.74ppm from last year.

As well as pumping carbon emissions into the atmosphere, the wildfires are burning vegetation, which would otherwise act as a “sink” to soak up CO₂.

Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? Show all 21 1 /21 Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-15.JPG Philippe Ravenel poses for a photo in front of the remains of his house after it was burnt in a bushfire, in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Photos Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-19.JPG Volunteers arrange donated clothes at a centre that has been turned into an unofficial donation point in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia. Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-10.JPG Children play inside an Australian Army forces vehicle that was expedited to help with the recovery of the town following the bushfires, during a gathering at the town's pub to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-17.JPG A teapot salvaged from the house of Philippe Ravenel, whose home was burnt in a bushfire, stands amongst some of his other belongings in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-16.JPG A man sits on a bench as caravans and tents of evacuees are parked at a showground that was turned into an unofficial evacuation centre, in the town of Cobargo, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-12.JPG Two women embrace during a gathering in the town's pub, to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters, in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY.JPG Tim Salway, a fifth-generation dairy farmer who lost both his father and brother in the bushfires, stands in his farm in Wandella, near the town of Cobargo. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-6.JPG A firefighter's suit hangs on the fence of a property next to a sign that reads "Thanks guys" in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-13.JPG Rod Dunn who is a builder, stands outside a borrowed caravan that he is now living in with his wife Kath Dunn, after they lost their home in a bushfire, at a showground that was turned into an unofficial evacuation centre in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-18.JPG Donated clothes and blankets are piled outside an unofficial donation point in the town of Cobargo. Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-1.JPG The Cobargo town sign that was burnt in a bushfire, stands in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-11.JPG A note that reads "Post Apocalyptic Fiction is moved to Current Affairs" is posted on the window of a bookshop in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-14.JPG People listen to a speech during a gathering in the town's pub, to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters, in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-3.JPG Mark Ayliffe, captain of the Cobargo Rural Fire Service, holds his own portrait that was given to him by members of the community for his efforts in the recent bushfires, during a gathering in the town's pub, in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-9.JPG Donated children's shoes are displayed at a centre that has been turned into an unofficial donation point in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-8.JPG People select donated goods at a showground that was turned into an unofficial evacuation centre, in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-7.JPG The remains of a car, burnt by a bushfire, stands in front of a destroyed structure, in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-5.JPG A woman carrying a child, holds a box of donated goods, at a showground that was turned into an unofficial evacuation centre, in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-2.JPG A danger sign is hung in front of an area cordoned off by the Emergency State Services, that was destroyed by bushfires in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-0.JPG David Moran, a community worker from Dalmeny, climbs down a ladder as he is helped by volunteers Daniel and Stephanie Galileos to clean the solar panels on Peter Hisco's (R) house in the town of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-4.JPG People attend a gathering in the town's pub to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters, in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis SEARCH "COBARGO BUSHFIRE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS Reuters

More than 24 million acres of land have been destroyed as the blazes have raged across New South Wales and Victoria since September, and the extreme scale of the fires means regrowth of plants will be slower than usual.

Professor Richard Betts, of the Met Office’s Hadley Centre for climate change research, said: “Although the series of annual levels of CO₂ have always seen a year-on-year increase since 1958, driven by fossil fuel burning and deforestation, the rate of rise isn’t perfectly even, because there are fluctuations in the response of ecosystem carbon sinks, especially tropical forests. Overall these are expected to be weaker than normal for a second year running.”

If the Met Office’s forecast is accurate, the CO₂ rise in 2020 would be the fourth highest since records began. The larger previous increases in 1998, 2016 and 2019 were all linked to warmer temperatures caused by the El Nino climate cycle, according to the Met Office.

The uptake of carbon dioxide by land ecosystems is known to be affected by weather patterns linked to year-by-year swings in Pacific Ocean temperatures.

In years with a warmer tropical Pacific, many regions become hotter and drier, limiting the ability of plants to grow and absorb CO₂ and increasing the risk of wildfires. The Met Office said this, along with other weather patterns and human-induced global warming, contributed to the hot, dry weather that has fuelled Australia’s most devastating bushfires in decades.

Professor Betts added: “The success of our previous forecasts has shown that the year-to-year variability in the rate of rise of CO₂ in the atmosphere is affected more by the strength of ecosystem carbon sinks and sources than year-to-year changes in human-induced emissions. Nevertheless, the anthropogenic emissions are still the overall driver of the long-term rise in concentrations.”

Australia’s wildfires have killed at least 33 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and burned to death millions of animals.