Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-16-2003

Publication Title

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

Keywords

Trace gas emissions, Biomass fires, Smoke, Savanna fires, Emissions from fires, Particle emissions

ISSN

2169-897X

Volume

108

Issue/No.

D13

First Page

SAF 23-1

Last Page

SAF 23-32

Abstract

Airborne measurements made on initial smoke from 10 savanna fires in southern Africa provide quantitative data on emissions of 50 gaseous and particulate species, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, methane, ammonia, dimethyl sulfide, nonmethane organic compounds, halocarbons, gaseous organic acids, aerosol ionic components, carbonaceous aerosols, and condensation nuclei (CN). Measurements of several of the gaseous species by gas chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are compared. Emission ratios and emission factors are given for eight species that have not been reported previously for biomass burning of savanna in southern Africa (namely, dimethyl sulfide, methyl nitrate, five hydrocarbons, and particles with diameters from 0.1 to 3 μm). The emission factor that we measured for ammonia is lower by a factor of 4, and the emission factors for formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, and CN are greater by factors of about 3, 20, and 3–15, respectively, than previously reported values. The new emission factors are used to estimate annual emissions of these species from savanna fires in Africa and worldwide.

Comments

©2003 by the American Geophysical Union

Additional Comments

8487

DOI

10.1029/2002JD002325

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