Biomass consumption and CO2, CO and main hydrocarbon gas emissions in an Amazonian forest clearing fire

T. G. Soares Neto; J. A. Carvalho; C. A. G. Veras; E. C. Alvarado; R. Gielow; E. N. Lincoln; T. J. Christian; R. J. Yokelson; J. C. Santos

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Biomass consumption and CO2, CO and main hydrocarbon gas emissions in an Amazonian forest clearing fire

Informally Refereed

Authors:

T. G. Soares Neto, J. A. Carvalho, C. A. G. Veras, E. C. Alvarado, R. Gielow, E. N. Lincoln, T. J. Christian, R. J. Yokelson, J. C. Santos

Year:

2009

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Atmospheric Environment. 43: 438-446.

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Abstract

Biomass consumption and CO2, CO and hydrocarbon gas emissions in an Amazonian forest clearing fire are presented and discussed. The experiment was conducted in the arc of deforestation, near the city of Alta Floresta, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The average carbon content of dry biomass was 48% and the estimated average moisture content of fresh biomass was 42% on wet weight basis. The fresh biomass and the amount of carbon on the ground before burning were estimated as 528 t ha-1 and 147 t ha-1, respectively. The overall biomass consumption for the experiment was estimated as 23.9%. A series of experiment in the same region resulted in average efficiency of 40% for areas of same size and 50% for larger areas. The lower efficiency obtained in the burn reported here occurred possibly due to rain before the experiment.

Keywords

biomass consumption, gas emission, Amazonian forest fires

Citation

Neto, T. G. Soares; Carvalho, J. A., Jr.; Veras, C. A. G.; Alvarado, E. C.; Gielow, R.; Lincoln, E. N.; Christian, T. J.; Yokelson, R. J.; Santos, J. C. 2009. Biomass consumption and CO2, CO and main hydrocarbon gas emissions in an Amazonian forest clearing fire. Atmospheric Environment. 43: 438-446.