Reading, UK - Devastating forest fires in several parts of the Northern Hemisphere this summer caused record carbon emissions, according to an EU climate monitor.

Carbon emissions reached their highest levels in July and August since recording began in 2003, the UK-based Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service said on Tuesday.

In July, fires released some 1,258.8 megatons of CO2 worldwide, according to estimates. This level rose to 1,384.6 megatons in August.

The fires burned with unprecedented intensity and for longer than is usual.

Wildfires burning in the US and Siberia caused more than half of the carbon emitted in July and August, with 970 megatons of CO2 released in Russia alone from June to August. Most of the emitted carbon was in the Yakutia region and the Chukchi Autonomous District.

However, wildfires also raged in the Arctic and in many parts of the Mediterranean.

Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes due to wildfires in Greece, Turkey, Italy, France and Spain, among other countries. Emergency crews battled to prevent further damage, but were hampered by drought and unseasonably hot weather in many places.

The scientists' estimates are based on assessments of satellite imagery of active fires. They measure the heat output to infer the emissions levels.