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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 6, NUMBER 2, FEBRUARY 1993

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
BIOMASS BURNING/TROPOSPHERIC OZONE

Item #d93feb45

"Seasonal Distribution of African Savanna Fires," D.R. Cahoon Jr. (Atmos. Sci. Div., NASA-Langley, Hampton VA 23681), B.J. Stocks et al., Nature, 359(6398), 812-815, Oct. 29, 1992.

The temporal and spatial distributions of African savanna fires, which may produce up to a third of the total global emissions from biomass burning, were studied by satellite imagery. Contrary to expectations, most fires are left to burn uncontrolled, and fires show no strong diurnal cycle.

Item #d93feb46

"Geostationary Satellite Detection of Biomass Burning in South America," E.M. Prins (Coop. Inst. Meteor. Satellite Studies, 1225 W. Dayton St., Madison WI 53706), W.P. Menzel, Intl. J. Remote Sensing, 13(15), 2783-2799, Oct. 1992.

Presents results of using GOES satellite infrared (VAS) data to monitor biomass burning. Although the VAS data have lower spatial resolution than AVHRR data, this is not a constraint and in some respects is advantageous.

Item #d93feb47

Two items from J. Geophys. Res., 97(D13), Sep. 20, 1992:

"Biomass Burning Airborne and Spaceborne Experiment in the Amazonas (BASE-A)," Y.J. Kaufman (NASA-Goddard, Greenbelt MD 20771), A. Setzer, 14,581-14,599. The Sep. 1989 field experiment involved aircraft measurements of trace gases, particles and optical properties as well as satellite observations. Data were analyzed for emission ratios and combustion efficiency and compared to the Northern Hemisphere. Results suggest a strong correlation between tropical biomass burning and the formation of ozone and other trace gases.

"Smoke and Fire Characteristics for Cerrado and Deforestation Burns in Brazil: BASE-B Experiment," D.E. Ward (Intermountain Res. Sta., USDA For. Serv., POB 8089, Missoula MT 59807), R.A. Susott et al., 14,601-14,619. Test fires were performed and analyzed during Aug.-Sep. 1990 in a dry, savannalike region and a tropical moist forest of Brazil. Describes trace gases and particles released, fuel loads and combustion factors for CH₄, CO₂, CO, H2 and small particles as a function of combustion efficiency.

Item #d93feb48

Two items from J. Geophys. Res., 97(D12), Aug. 20, 1992:

"Distribution of Tropospheric Ozone at Brazzaville, Congo, Determined from Ozonesonde Measurements," B. Cros (Lab. Phys. Atmos., Faculté Sci., Univ. Maien Ngouabi, BP 69, Brazzaville, Congo), D. Nganga et al., 12,869-12,875. Analysis of 33 ozonesonde launches shows that tropospheric ozone is highest between June and early October, coincident with the dry season and widespread burning. Total ozone may be a better indicator of the amount of ozone in the troposphere than are surface measurements.

"Vertical Profiles of Ozone between 0 and 400 Meters in and above the African Equatorial Forest," B. Cros (addr. immed. above), J. Fontan et al., 12,877-12,887. Analyzes measurements taken in the northern Congo during the DECAFE experiment in Feb. 1988, and compares them to similar data from the southern Congo. Diurnal variations are discussed. Relates ozone to photochemical reactions involving precursors from soils and biomass burning.

Item #d93feb49

Two items from J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 54(5), May 1992.

"Excess Ozone Production in Amazonia from Large-Scale Burnings," V.W.J.H. Kirchoff (Inst. Nacl. Pesquisas Espaciais, CP 515, Sao José Campos, SP, Brazil), Y. Nakamura et al., 583-588. Examines ozone production related to dry-season biomass burning through seasonal measurements of O3 and CO in the burning regions, comparison of wet and dry season results, ozone profile data etc.

"Distribution of Tropospheric Ozone in the Tropics from Satellite and Ozonesonde Measurements," J. Fishman (Atmos. Sci. Div., NASA-Langley, Hampton VA 23681), V.G. Brackett, K. Fakhruzzaman, 589-597. Investigates an ozone anomaly observed in the southern tropical regions of Africa using ozonesonde measurements from Ascension Island, downwind of the likely source of the ozone. Results confirm that much of the ozone generated over central and southern Africa during the burning season (July-October) reaches Ascension Island. Another maximum in February may be related to sources in western and northern Africa.

Item #d93feb50

"Ozone Production Potential Following Convective Redistribution of Biomass Burning Emissions," K.E. Pickering (Univ. Space Res. Assoc., NASA-Goddard, Greenbelt MD 20771), A.M. Thompson et al., J. Atmos. Chem., 14(1-4), 297-313, Apr. 1992.

The effects of deep convection on the potential for forming ozone in the free troposphere were investigated using cloud dynamical and photochemical simulations based on data from 1980 and 1985 Brazilian campaigns. One case shows that entrainment of a layer polluted with biomass burning into a convective squall line changes the free tropospheric cloud outflow ozone destruction potential from net destruction to net production.

Item #d93feb51

"Evaluation of a Technique for Satellite-Derived Area Estimation of Forest Fires," D.R. Cahoon Jr. (NASA-Langley, Hampton VA 23665), B.J. Stocks et al., J. Geophys. Res., 97(D4), 3805-3814, Mar. 20, 1992. Discusses application of AVHRR data to determine the geographic extent of burning, evaluates errors, and applies to the Yellowstone fires of 1988.

Item #d93feb52

"Large Perturbations of Ammonium and Organic Acids Content in the Summit-Greenland Ice Core. Fingerprint from Forest Fires?" M. Legrand (Lab. Glaciol., BP 96, 38402 St. Martin d'Hères Cedex, France), M. De Angelis et al., Geophys. Res. Lett., 19(5), 473-475, Mar. 3, 1992.

Continuous ammonium measurements were performed on sections of ice core spanning 330 to 2,500 years B.P. Concentrations show a seasonal range of 1-20 ng g-1 with sporadic values up to 600 ng g-1, probably reflecting biomass burning.

Item #d93feb53

"A Regional Estimate of Convective Transport of CO from Biomass Burning," K.E. Pickering (NASA-Goddard, Greenbelt MD 20771), J.R. Scala et al., ibid., 19(3), 289-292, Feb. 7, 1992.

Calculations from a 2-D dynamical--microphysical model and satellite observations of biomass burning pollution and cloud cover provide an estimate of vertical CO transport for a heavily deforested section of Brazil. Estimates that 10%-40% of CO emissions are rapidly transported to the free troposphere, where they would efficiently produce ozone.

Item #d93feb54

"Ozone Budget over the Amazon: Regional Effects from Biomass Burning Emissions," J.L. Richardson (NASA-Langley, MS 401A, Hampton VA 23665), J. Fishman, G.L. Gregory, J. Geophys. Res., 96(D7), 13,073-13,087, July 20, 1991.

A 1-D, time-dependent photochemical model is used in conjunction with data obtained during the dry season to simulate tropospheric chemistry, especially the role of hydrocarbons in haze from burning. Regional transport of haze is an important factor explaining the increase of ozone observed annually during that season.

Item #d93feb55

"Influence of Biomass Burning on Equatorial African Rains," H. Cachier (Ctr. Faibles Radioactivités, CNRS-CEA, Ave. terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France), J. Ducret, Nature, 352(6332), 228-230, July 18, 1991.

Presents measurements of particulate black carbon, an unambiguous indicator of combustion, in rainwater collected at a remote site in the Northern Congo. Smoke particles may act as cloud condensation nuclei, playing a part in cloud formation and hence precipitation in the tropics.

Item #d93feb56

"Emissions of N₂O from the Burning of Biomass in an Experimental System," W.M. Hao (Fire Sci. Lab., USDA For. Serv., POB 8089, Missoula MT 59807), D. Scharffe et al., Geophys. Res. Lett., 18(6), 999-1002, June 1991.

Results of experimental open burning of savanna grass, straw, hay, oak, pine needles and pine forest litter show that about 2.7 x 1011 g of N₂O-N are produced annually from burning biomass, contributing only 2% to the global source of N₂O.