Biomass Burning Emission Estimation in Amazon Tropical Forest

2013 ◽  
pp. 145-170
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Emission Estimation

scholarly journals The tropical forest and fire emissions experiment: method evaluation of volatile organic compound emissions measured by PTR-MS, FTIR, and GC from tropical biomass burning

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 8755-8793 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. Karl ◽  
T. J. Christian ◽  
R. J. Yokelson ◽  
P. Artaxo ◽  
W. Min Hao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Organic Compound ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Volatile Organic Compound ◽  
Charge Ratio ◽  
Voc Emissions ◽  
Fire Emissions ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Emission Ratios

Abstract. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions from fires in tropical forest fuels were quantified using Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometry (PTRMS), Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled to PTRMS (GC-PTR-MS). We investigated VOC emissions from 19 controlled laboratory fires at the USFS Fire Sciences Laboratory and 16 fires during an intensive airborne field campaign during the peak of the burning season in Brazil in 2004. The VOC emissions were dominated by oxygenated VOCs (OVOC) (OVOC/NMHC ~4:1, NMHC: non-methane hydrocarbons) The specificity of the PTR-MS instrument, which measures the mass to charge ratio of VOCs ionized by H3O+ ions, was validated by gas chromatography and by intercomparing in-situ measurements with those obtained from an open path FTIR instrument. Emission ratios for methyl vinyl ketone, methacrolein, crotonaldehyde, acrylonitrile and pyrrole were measured in the field for the first time. Our measurements show a higher contribution of OVOCs than previously assumed for modeling purposes. Comparison of fresh (<15 min) and aged (>1hour-1day) smoke suggests altered emission ratios due to gas phase chemistry for acetone but not for acetaldehyde and methanol. Emission ratios for numerous, important, reactive VOCs with respect to acetonitrile (a biomass burning tracer) are presented.

scholarly journals Biomass-burning smoke heights over the Amazon observed from space

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 1685-1702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Gonzalez-Alonso ◽  
Maria Val Martin ◽  
Ralph A. Kahn
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Atmospheric Stability ◽  
Free Troposphere ◽  
Smoke Plume ◽  
Smoke Plumes ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
The Vertical Distribution

Abstract. We characterise the vertical distribution of biomass-burning emissions across the Amazon during the biomass-burning season (July–November) with an extensive climatology of smoke plumes derived from MISR and MODIS (2005–2012) and CALIOP (2006–2012) observations. Smoke plume heights exhibit substantial variability, spanning a few hundred metres up to 6 km above the terrain. However, the majority of the smoke is located at altitudes below 2.5 km. About 60 % of smoke plumes are observed in drought years, 40 %–50 % at the peak month of the burning season (September) and 94 % over tropical forest and savanna regions, with respect to the total number of smoke plume observations. At the time of the MISR observations (10:00–11:00 LT), the highest plumes are detected over grassland fires (with an averaged maximum plume height of ∼1100 m) and the lowest plumes occur over tropical forest fires (∼800 m). A similar pattern is found later in the day (14:00–15:00 LT) with CALIOP, although at higher altitudes (2300 m grassland vs. 2000 m tropical forest), as CALIOP typically detects smoke at higher altitudes due to its later overpass time, associated with a deeper planetary boundary layer, possibly more energetic fires, and greater sensitivity to thin aerosol layers. On average, 3 %–20 % of the fires inject smoke into the free troposphere; this percentage tends to increase toward the end of the burning season (November: 15 %–40 %). We find a well-defined seasonal cycle between MISR plume heights, MODIS fire radiative power and atmospheric stability across the main biomes of the Amazon, with higher smoke plumes, more intense fires and reduced atmospheric stability conditions toward the end of the burning season. Lower smoke plume heights are detected during drought (800 m) compared to non-drought (1100 m) conditions, in particular over tropical forest and savanna fires. Drought conditions favour understory fires over tropical forest, which tend to produce smouldering combustion and low smoke injection heights. Droughts also seem to favour deeper boundary layers and the percentage of smoke plumes that reach the free troposphere is lower during these dry conditions. Consistent with previous studies, the MISR mid-visible aerosol optical depth demonstrates that smoke makes a significant contribution to the total aerosol loading over the Amazon, which in combination with lower injection heights in drought periods has important implications for air quality. This work highlights the importance of biome type, fire properties and atmospheric and drought conditions for plume dynamics and smoke loading. In addition, our study demonstrates the value of combining observations of MISR and CALIOP constraints on the vertical distribution of smoke from biomass burning over the Amazon.

scholarly journals The moving of high emission for biomass burning in China: View from multi-year emission estimation and human-driven forces

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 105812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Wu ◽  
Shaofei Kong ◽  
Fangqi Wu ◽  
Yi Cheng ◽  
Shurui Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
High Emission ◽  
Emission Estimation

scholarly journals Anthropogenic influences on the physical state of submicron particulate matter over a tropical forest

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 1759-1773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam P. Bateman ◽  
Zhaoheng Gong ◽  
Tristan H. Harder ◽  
Suzane S. de Sá ◽  
Bingbing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Physical State ◽  
Urban Pollution ◽  
Urban Region ◽  
Anthropogenic Influence ◽  
Anthropogenic Influences ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Continental Scale

Abstract. The occurrence of nonliquid and liquid physical states of submicron atmospheric particulate matter (PM) downwind of an urban region in central Amazonia was investigated. Measurements were conducted during two intensive operating periods (IOP1 and IOP2) that took place during the wet and dry seasons of the GoAmazon2014/5 campaign. Air masses representing variable influences of background conditions, urban pollution, and regional- and continental-scale biomass burning passed over the research site. As the air masses varied, particle rebound fraction, an indicator of physical state, was measured in real time at ground level using an impactor apparatus. Micrographs collected by transmission electron microscopy confirmed that liquid particles adhered, while nonliquid particles rebounded. Relative humidity (RH) was scanned to collect rebound curves. When the apparatus RH matched ambient RH, 95 % of the particles adhered as a campaign average. Secondary organic material, produced for the most part by the oxidation of volatile organic compounds emitted from the forest, produces liquid PM over this tropical forest. During periods of anthropogenic influence, by comparison, the rebound fraction dropped to as low as 60 % at 95 % RH. Analyses of the mass spectra of the atmospheric PM by positive-matrix factorization (PMF) and of concentrations of carbon monoxide, total particle number, and oxides of nitrogen were used to identify time periods affected by anthropogenic influences, including both urban pollution and biomass burning. The occurrence of nonliquid PM at high RH correlated with these indicators of anthropogenic influence. A linear model having as output the rebound fraction and as input the PMF factor loadings explained up to 70 % of the variance in the observed rebound fractions. Anthropogenic influences can contribute to the presence of nonliquid PM in the atmospheric particle population through the combined effects of molecular species that increase viscosity when internally mixed with background PM and increased concentrations of nonliquid anthropogenic particles in external mixtures of anthropogenic and biogenic PM.

Aerosol emissions by tropical forest and savanna biomass burning: Characteristic trace elements and fluxes

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 3039-3042 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Echalar ◽  
A. Gaudichet ◽  
H. Cachier ◽  
P. Artaxo
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Aerosol Emissions

scholarly journals Characterising Brazilian biomass burning emissions using WRF-Chem with MOSAIC sectional aerosol

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Archer-Nicholls ◽  
D. Lowe ◽  
E. Darbyshire ◽  
W. T. Morgan ◽  
M. M. Bela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Burned Area ◽  
Plume Rise ◽  
Fire Size ◽  
Aerosol Composition ◽  
Fire Emissions ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
Flight Measurements

Abstract. The South American Biomass Burning Analysis (SAMBBA) field campaign took detailed in situ flight measurements of aerosol during the 2012 dry season to characterise biomass burning aerosol and improve understanding of its impacts on weather and climate. Developments have been made to the Weather Research and Forecast model with chemistry (WRF-Chem) model to improve the representation of biomass burning aerosol in the region, by coupling a sectional aerosol scheme to the plume-rise parameterisation. Brazilian Biomass Burning Emissions Model (3BEM) fire emissions are used, prepared using PREP-CHEM-SRC, and mapped to CBM-Z and MOSAIC species. Model results have been evaluated against remote sensing products, AERONET sites, and four case studies of flight measurements from the SAMBBA campaign. WRF-Chem predicted layers of elevated aerosol loadings (5–20 μg sm−3) of particulate organic matter at high altitude (6–8 km) over tropical forest regions, while flight measurements showed a sharp decrease above 2–4 km altitude. This difference was attributed to the plume-rise parameterisation overestimating injection height. The 3BEM emissions product was modified using estimates of active fire size and burned area for the 2012 fire season, which reduced the fire size. The enhancement factor for fire emissions was increased from 1.3 to 5 to retain reasonable aerosol optical depths (AODs). The smaller fire size lowered the injection height of the emissions, but WRF-Chem still showed elevated aerosol loadings between 4–5 km altitude. Over eastern cerrado (savannah-like) regions, both modelled and measured aerosol loadings decreased above approximately 4 km altitude. Compared with MODIS satellite data and AERONET sites, WRF-Chem represented AOD magnitude well (between 0.3–1.5) over western tropical forest fire regions in the first half of the campaign, but tended to over-predict them in the second half, when precipitation was more significant. Over eastern cerrado regions, WRF-Chem tended to under-predict AODs. Modelled aerosol loadings in the east were higher in the modified emission scenario. The primary organic matter to black carbon ratio was typically between 8–10 in WRF-Chem. This was lower than the western flight measurements (interquartile range of 11.6–15.7 in B734, 14.7–24.0 in B739), but similar to the eastern flight B742 (8.1–10.4). However, single scattering albedo was close to measured over the western flights (0.87–0.89 in model; 0.86–0.91 in flight B734, and 0.81–0.95 in flight B739 measurements) but too high over the eastern flight B742 (0.86–0.87 in model, 0.79–0.82 in measurements). This suggests that improvements are needed to both modelled aerosol composition and optical properties calculations in WRF-Chem.

scholarly journals Near-field emission profiling of tropical forest and Cerrado fires in Brazil during SAMBBA 2012

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 5619-5638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy K. Hodgson ◽  
William T. Morgan ◽  
Sebastian O'Shea ◽  
Stéphane Bauguitte ◽  
James D. Allan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Emission Factors ◽  
Fuel Combustion ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Particulate Emission ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Fire Conditions

Abstract. We profile trace gas and particulate emissions from near-field airborne measurements of discrete smoke plumes in Brazil during the 2012 biomass burning season. The South American Biomass Burning Analysis (SAMBBA) Project conducted during September and October 2012 sampled across two distinct fire regimes prevalent in the Amazon Basin. Combined measurements from a Compact Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (C-ToF-AMS) and a Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) are reported for the first time in a tropical biomass burning environment. Emissions from a mostly smouldering tropical forest wildfire in Rondônia state and numerous smaller flaming Cerrado fires in Tocantins state are presented. While the Cerrado fires appear to be representative of typical fire conditions in the existing literature, the tropical forest wildfire likely represents a more extreme example of biomass burning with a bias towards mostly smouldering emissions. We determined fire-integrated modified combustion efficiencies, emission ratios and emission factors for trace gas and particulate components for these two fire types, alongside aerosol microphysical properties. Seven times more black carbon was emitted from the Cerrado fires per unit of fuel combustion (EFBC of 0.13 ± 0.04 g kg−1) compared to the tropical forest fire (EFBC of 0.019 ± 0.006 g kg−1), and more than 6 times the amount of organic aerosol was emitted from the tropical forest fire per unit of fuel combustion (EFOM of 8.00 ± 2.53 g kg−1, EFOC of 5.00 ± 1.58 g kg−1) compared to the Cerrado fires (EFOM of 1.31 ± 0.42 g kg−1, EFOC of 0.82 ± 0.26 g kg−1). Particulate-phase species emitted from the fires sampled are generally lower than those reported in previous studies and in emission inventories, which is likely a combination of differences in fire combustion efficiency and fuel mixture, along with different measurement techniques. Previous modelling studies focussed on the biomass burning season in tropical South America have required significant scaling up of emissions to reproduce in situ and satellite aerosol concentrations over the region. Our results do not indicate that emission factors used in inventories are biased low, which could be one potential cause of the reported underestimates in modelling studies. This study supplements and updates trace gas and particulate emission factors for fire-type-specific biomass burning in Brazil for use in weather and climate models. The study illustrates that initial fire conditions can result in substantial differences in terms of their emitted chemical components, which can potentially perturb the Earth system.

scholarly journals Supplementary material to "Biomass burning emissions disturbances on the isoprene oxidation in a tropical forest"

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando C. Santos ◽  
Karla M. Longo ◽  
Alex B. Guenther ◽  
Saewung Kim ◽  
Dasa Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Isoprene Oxidation ◽  
Supplementary Material

scholarly journals Characterising Brazilian biomass burning emissions using WRF-Chem with MOSAIC sectional aerosol

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 6061-6131
Author(s):  
S. Archer-Nicholls ◽  
D. Lowe ◽  
E. Darbyshire ◽  
W. T. Morgan ◽  
M. M. Bela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Burned Area ◽  
Plume Rise ◽  
Fire Size ◽  
Aerosol Composition ◽  
Fire Emissions ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
Flight Measurements

Abstract. The South American Biomass Burning Analysis (SAMBBA) field campaign took detailed in-situ flight measurements of aerosol during the 2012 dry season to characterise biomass burning aerosol and improve understanding of its impacts on weather and climate. Developments have been made to the Weather research and Forecast model with chemistry (WRF-Chem) model to improve the representation of biomass burning aerosol in the region by coupling a sectional aerosol scheme to the plume rise parameterisation. Brazilian Biomass Burning Emissions Model (3BEM) fire emissions are used, prepared using PREP-CHEM-SRC, and mapped to CBM-Z and MOSAIC species. Model results have been evaluated against remote sensing products, AERONET sites, and four case studies of flight measurements from the SAMBBA campaign. WRF-Chem predicted layers of elevated aerosol loadings (5–20 μg sm−3) of particulate organic matter at high altitude (6–8 km) over tropical forest regions, while flight measurements showed a sharp decrease above 2–4 km altitude. This difference was attributed to the plume-rise parameterisation overestimating injection height. The 3BEM emissions product was modified using estimates of active fire size and burned area for the 2012 fire season, which reduced the fire size. The enhancement factor for fire emissions was increased from 1.3 to 5 to retain reasonable aerosol optical depths (AOD). The smaller fire size lowered the injection height of the emissions, but WRF-Chem still showed elevated aerosol loadings between 4–5 km altitude. Over eastern Cerrado (savannah-like) regions, both modelled and measured aerosol loadings decreased above approximately 4 km altitude. Compared with MODIS satellite data and AERONET sites, WRF-Chem represented AOD magnitude well (between 0.3–1.5) over western tropical forest fire regions in the first half of the campaign, but tended to over-predict them in the second half, when precipitation was more significant. Over eastern Cerrado regions, WRF-Chem tended to under-predict AOD. Modeled aerosol loadings in the east were higher in the modified emission scenario. The primary organic matter to black carbon ratio was typically between 8–10 in WRF-Chem. This was lower than western flights measurements (interquartile range of 11.6–15.7 in B734, 14.7–24.0 in B739), but similar to the eastern flight B742 (8.1–10.4). However, single scattering albedo was close to measured over the western flights (0.87–0.89 in model; 0.88–0.91 in flight B734, and 0.86–0.95 in flight B739 measurements) but too high over the eastern flight B742 (0.86–0.87 in model, 0.81–0.84 in measurements). This suggests that improvements are needed to both modeled aerosol composition and optical properties calculations in WRF-Chem.

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