Feedbacks between Climate and Fire Emissions
Abstract
Fires emit significant amounts of trace gases and particulate matter to the atmosphere. These emissions include greenhouse gases, such as CO2 and methane, reactive gases that include a suite of nonmethane organic compounds, and various particulate species, including black and organic carbon. Quantifying these emissions and constraining our understanding of their impacts on the atmosphere continues to be an on-going challenge. Recent advances in measurement techniques, remote sensing observations, and modeling tools have enabled much better constraints on these processes, yet large uncertainties remain. There are feedbacks between the fire and climate systems that can control the emissions from fires. Further, once in the atmosphere, fire emissions not only impact atmospheric composition and air quality, but can also influence the climate system in various ways. For example, particulate matter emitted to the atmosphere from fires can have direct radiative effects that can influence local meteorology as well as processes that control atmospheric chemistry. This talk will address the various emissions from fires to the atmosphere and their controls, including climatic controls. The impacts of fires on the climate system also will be highlighted and the results from recent studies presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 29, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA554068
Entities
People
- Christine Wiedinmyer
Organizations
- National Center for Atmospheric Research