scholarly journals Where there is smoke there is mercury: Assessing boreal forest fire mercury emissions using aircraft and highlighting uncertainties associated with upscaling emissions estimates

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 5635-5653
Author(s):  
David S. McLagan ◽  
Geoff W. Stupple ◽  
Andrea Darlington ◽  
Katherine Hayden ◽  
Alexandra Steffen
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Background Concentration ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Mercury Emissions

Abstract. Emissions from biomass burning are an important source of mercury (Hg) to the atmosphere and an integral component of the global Hg biogeochemical cycle. In 2018, measurements of gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) were taken on board a research aircraft along with a series of co-emitted contaminants in the emissions plume of an 88 km2 boreal forest wildfire on the Garson Lake Plain (GLP) in NW Saskatchewan, Canada. A series of four flight tracks were made perpendicular to the plume at increasing distances from the fire, each with three to five passes at different altitudes at each downwind location. The maximum GEM concentration measured on the flight was 2.88 ng m−3, which is ≈ 2.4× background concentration. GEM concentrations were significantly correlated with the co-emitted carbon species (CO, CO2, and CH4). Emissions ratios (ERs) were calculated from measured GEM and carbon co-contaminant data. Using the most correlated (least uncertain) of these ratios (GEM:CO), GEM concentrations were estimated at the higher 0.5 Hz time resolution of the CO measurements, resulting in maximum GEM concentrations and enhancements of 6.76 ng m−3 and ≈ 5.6×, respectively. Extrapolating the estimated maximum 0.5 Hz GEM concentration data from each downwind location back to source, 1 km and 1 m (from fire) concentrations were predicted to be 12.9 and 30.0 ng m−3, or enhancements of ≈ 11× and ≈ 25×, respectively. ERs and emissions factors (EFs) derived from the measured data and literature values were also used to calculate Hg emissions estimates on three spatial scales: (i) the GLP fires themselves, (ii) all boreal forest biomass burning, and (iii) global biomass burning. The most robust estimate was of the GLP fires (21 ± 10 kg of Hg) using calculated EFs that used minimal literature-derived data. Using the Top-down Emission Rate Retrieval Algorithm (TERRA), we were able to determine a similar emission estimate of 22 ± 7 kg of Hg. The elevated uncertainties of the other estimates and high variability between the different methods used in the calculations highlight concerns with some of the assumptions that have been used in calculating Hg biomass burning in the literature. Among these problematic assumptions are variable ERs of contaminants based on vegetation type and fire intensity, differing atmospheric lifetimes of emitted contaminants, the use of only one co-contaminant in emissions estimate calculations, and the paucity of atmospheric Hg species concentration measurements in biomass burning plumes.

scholarly journals Where there is smoke there is mercury: Assessing boreal forest fire mercury emissions using aircraft and highlighting uncertainties associated with upscaling emissions estimates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. McLagan ◽  
Geoff W. Stupple ◽  
Andrea Darlington ◽  
Katherine Hayden ◽  
Alexandra Steffen
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Mercury Emissions ◽  
Research Aircraft

Abstract. Mercury (Hg) emitted from biomass burning is an important source of the contaminant to the atmosphere and an integral component of the global Hg biogeochemical cycle. In 2018, measurements of gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) were taken on-board a research aircraft along with a series of co-emitted contaminants in the emissions plume of an 88 km2 boreal forest wildfire on the Garson Lake Plain (GLP) in NW Saskatchewan, Canada. A series of four flight tracks were made perpendicular to the emissions plume at increasing distances from the fire each with 3–5 passes at different altitudes at each downwind location. The maximum GEM concentration measured on the flight was 2.88 ng m−3, which represents a ≈2.4x increase in concentration above background. GEM concentrations were significantly correlated with the co-emitted carbon species (CO, CO2, and CH4). Emissions ratios (ERs) were calculated from measured GEM and carbon co-contaminants data. Using the least uncertain of these ratios (GEM : CO), GEM concentrations were estimated at the higher 0.5 Hz time resolution of the CO measurements resulting in maximum GEM concentrations and enhancements of 6.75 ng m−3 and ≈5.6x, respectively. Extrapolating the estimated maximum 0.5 Hz GEM concentration data from each downwind location back to source, 1 km and 1 m (from fire) concentrations were predicted to be 12.9 and 29.9 ng m−3, or enhancements of ≈11x and ≈25x, respectively. ERs and emissions factors (EFs) derived from the measured data and literature values were also used to calculate Hg emissions estimates on three spatial scales: (i) the GLP fires themselves, (ii) all boreal forest biomass burning, and (iii) global biomass burning. The most robust estimate was of the GLP fires (21 ± 10 kg of Hg) using calculated EFs that used minimal literature derived data. Using a Top-down Emission Rate Retrieval Algorithm (TERRA) we were able to determine a similar emission estimate of 22 ± 7 kg of Hg. The elevated uncertainties of the other estimates and high variability between the different methods used in the calculations highlight concerns with some of the assumptions that have been used in calculating Hg biomass burning in the literature. Among these problematic assumptions are variable ERs of contaminants based on vegetation type and fire intensity, differing atmospheric lifetimes of emitted contaminants, the use of only one co-contaminant in emissions estimate calculations, and the paucity of atmospheric Hg species concentration measurements in biomass burning plumes.

scholarly journals Properties and evolution of biomass burning organic aerosol from Canadian boreal forest fires

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 25095-25138 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Jolleys ◽  
H. Coe ◽  
G. McFiggans ◽  
J. W. Taylor ◽  
S. J. O'Shea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Charge Ratio ◽  
Far Field ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Airborne measurements of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA) from boreal forest fires reveal highly contrasting properties for plumes of different ages. These measurements, performed using an Aerodyne Research Inc. compact time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (C-ToF-AMS) during the BORTAS (quantifying the impact of BOReal forest fires on Tropospheric oxidants over the Atlantic using Aircraft and Satellites) experiment in the summer of 2011, have been used to derive normalised excess organic aerosol (OA) mass concentrations (ΔOA/ΔCO), with higher average ratios observed closer to source (0.190 ± 0.010) than in the far-field (0.097 ± 0.002). The difference in ΔOA/ΔCO between fresh and aged plumes is influenced by a change in dominant combustion conditions throughout the campaign. Measurements at source sampled largely smouldering fires, while plumes encountered in the far-field originated from fires occurring earlier in the campaign when fire activity had been more intense. Changing combustion conditions also affect the vertical distribution of biomass burning emissions, as aged plumes from more flaming-dominated fires are injected to higher altitudes of up to 6000 m. Proportional contributions of the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) 60 and 44 peaks in the AMS mass spectra to the total OA mass (denoted f60 and f44) are used as tracers for primary and oxidized BBOA, respectively. Given the shorter aging times associated with near-field plumes, f44 is lower on average than in more aged, transported plumes. However, high levels of ΔO3/ΔCO and -log(NOx/NOy) close to source indicate that emissions can be subject to very rapid oxidation over short timescales. Conversely, the lofting of plumes into the upper troposphere can lead to the retention of source profiles after transportation over extensive temporal and spatial scales, with f60 also higher on average in aged plumes. Evolution of OA composition with aging is comparable to observations of BB tracers in previous studies, revealing a consistent progression from f60 to f44. The elevated levels of oxygenation in aged plumes, and their association with lower average ΔOA/ΔCO, highlight the influence of OA losses during aging, although there remain considerable uncertainties regarding the role of combustion processes on BBOA production and composition.

scholarly journals Properties and evolution of biomass burning organic aerosol from Canadian boreal forest fires

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 3077-3095 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Jolleys ◽  
H. Coe ◽  
G. McFiggans ◽  
J. W. Taylor ◽  
S. J. O'Shea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Charge Ratio ◽  
Far Field ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Airborne measurements of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA) from boreal forest fires reveal highly contrasting properties for plumes of different ages. These measurements, performed using an Aerodyne Research Inc. compact time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (C-ToF-AMS) during the BORTAS (quantifying the impact of BOReal forest fires on Tropospheric oxidants over the Atlantic using Aircraft and Satellites) experiment in the summer of 2011, have been used to derive normalised excess organic aerosol (OA) mass concentrations (ΔOA / ΔCO), with higher average ratios observed closer to source (0.190±0.010) than in the far-field (0.097±0.002). The difference in ΔOA / ΔCO between fresh and aged plumes is influenced by a change in dominant combustion conditions throughout the campaign. Measurements at source comprised 3 plume interceptions during a single research flight and sampled largely smouldering fires. Twenty-three interceptions were made across four flights in the far-field, with plumes originating from fires occurring earlier in the campaign when fire activity had been more intense, creating an underlying contrast in emissions prior to any transformations associated with aging. Changing combustion conditions also affect the vertical distribution of biomass burning emissions, as aged plumes from more flaming-dominated fires are injected to higher altitudes of up to 6000 m. Proportional contributions of the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) 60 and 44 peaks in the AMS mass spectra to the total OA mass (denoted f60 and f44) are used as tracers for primary and oxidised BBOA, respectively. f44 is lower on average in near-field plumes than those sampled in the far-field, in accordance with longer aging times as plumes are transported a greater distance from source. However, high levels of ΔO3 / ΔCO and −log(NOx / NOy) close to source indicate that emissions can be subject to very rapid oxidation over short timescales. Conversely, the lofting of plumes into the upper troposphere can lead to the retention of source profiles after transportation over extensive temporal and spatial scales, with f60 also higher on average in aged plumes. Evolution of OA composition with aging is comparable to observations of BB tracers in previous studies, revealing a consistent progression from f60 to f44. The elevated levels of oxygenation in aged plumes, and their association with lower average ΔOA / ΔCO, are consistent with OA loss through evaporation during aging due to a combination of dilution and chemical processing, while differences in combustion conditions throughout the campaign also have a significant influence on BBOA production and composition.

scholarly journals How to consider the effects of time of day, beam strength, and snow cover in ICESat-2 based estimation of boreal forest biomass?

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petri Varvia ◽  
Lauri Korhonen ◽  
André Bruguière ◽  
Janne Toivonen ◽  
Petteri Packalen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Forest Zone ◽  
Weak Beam ◽  
Power Difference

Spaceborne lidar sensors have potential to improve the accuracy of forest above-ground biomass (AGB) estimates by providing direct measurements of 3D structure of forests over large spatial scales. The ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite 2), launched in 2018, provides a good coverage of the boreal forest zone and has been previously shown to provide good estimates of forest canopy height and AGB. However, spaceborne lidar data are affected by various conditions, such as presence of snow, solar noise, and in the case of ICESat-2, the power difference between the so-called strong and weak beams. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of these conditions on the performance of AGB modeling using ICESat-2 photon data in a boreal forest area. The framework of the study is multiphase modeling, where AGB field data and wall-to-wall airborne laser scanning (ALS) data are used to produce proxy ALS plots on ICESat-2 track positions. Models between the ALS-predicted AGB and the ICESat-2 photon data are then formulated and evaluated by subsets, such as only strong beam data captured in snowy conditions.Our results indicate that, if possible, strong beam night data from snowless conditions should be used in AGB estimation, because our models showed clearly smallest RMSE (27.0%) for this data subset. If more data are needed, we recommend using only strong beam data and constructing separate models for the different data subsets. In the order of increasing RMSE\%, the next best options were snow/night/strong (30.5%), snow/day/strong (33.6%), and snowless/day/strong (34.2%). Weak beam data from snowy night conditions could also be used if necessary (31.1%).

Boreal forest biomass accumulation is not increased by two decades of soil warming

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyungwoo Lim ◽  
Ram Oren ◽  
Torgny Näsholm ◽  
Monika Strömgren ◽  
Tomas Lundmark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Soil Warming

scholarly journals Amines in boreal forest air at SMEAR II station in Finland

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 6367-6380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marja Hemmilä ◽  
Heidi Hellén ◽  
Aki Virkkula ◽  
Ulla Makkonen ◽  
Arnaud P. Praplan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Detection Limits ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Monthly Means ◽  
Ammonium Ions ◽  
Quadrupole Mass ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Diurnal Variability

Abstract. We measured amines in boreal forest air in Finland both in gas and particle phases with 1 h time resolution using an online ion chromatograph (instrument for Measuring AeRosols and Gases in Ambient Air – MARGA) connected to an electrospray ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS). The developed MARGA-MS method was able to separate and detect seven different amines: monomethylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), trimethylamine (TMA), ethylamine (EA), diethylamine (DEA), propylamine (PA), and butylamine (BA). The detection limits of the method for amines were low (0.2–3.1 ng m−3), the accuracy of IC-MS analysis was 11–37 %, and the precision 10–15 %. The proper measurements in the boreal forest covered about 8 weeks between March and December 2015. The amines were found to be an inhomogeneous group of compounds, showing different seasonal and diurnal variability. Total MMA (MMA(tot)) peaked together with the sum of ammonia and ammonium ions already in March. In March, monthly means for MMA were < 2.4 and 6.8 ± 9.1 ng m−3 in gas and aerosol phases, respectively, and for NH3 and NH4+ these were 52 ± 16 and 425 ± 371 ng m−3, respectively. Monthly medians in March for MMA(tot), NH3, and NH4+ were < 2.4, 19 and 90 ng m−3, respectively. DMA(tot) and TMA(tot) had summer maxima indicating biogenic sources. We observed diurnal variation for DMA(tot) but not for TMA(tot). The highest concentrations of these compounds were measured in July. Then, monthly means for DMA were < 3.1 and 8.4 ± 3.1 ng m−3 in gas and aerosol phases, respectively, and for TMA these were 0.4 ± 0.1 and 1.8 ± 0.5 ng m−3. Monthly medians in July for DMA were below the detection limit (DL) and 4.9 ng m−3 in gas and aerosol phases, respectively, and for TMA these were 0.4 and 1.4 ng m−3. When relative humidity of air was > 90 %, gas-phase DMA correlated well with 1.1–2 nm particle number concentration (R2=0.63) suggesting that it participates in atmospheric clustering. EA concentrations were low all the time. Its July means were < 0.36 and 0.4 ± 0.4 ng m−3 in gas and aerosol phases, respectively, but individual concentration data correlated well with monoterpene concentrations in July. Monthly means of PA and BA were below detection limits at all times.

Fungi and fire in Australian ecosystems: a review of current knowledge, management implications and future directions

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sapphire J. M. McMullan-Fisher ◽  
Tom W. May ◽  
Richard M. Robinson ◽  
Tina L. Bell ◽  
Teresa Lebel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Community ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Trophic Group ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Essential Components

Fungi are essential components of all ecosystems in roles including symbiotic partners, decomposers and nutrient cyclers and as a source of food for vertebrates and invertebrates. Fire changes the environment in which fungi live by affecting soil structure, nutrient availability, organic and inorganic substrates and other biotic components with which fungi interact, particularly mycophagous animals. We review the literature on fire and fungi in Australia, collating studies that include sites with different time since fire or different fire regimes. The studies used a variety of methods for survey and identification of fungi and focussed on different groups of fungi, with an emphasis on fruit-bodies of epigeal macrofungi and a lack of studies on microfungi in soil or plant tissues. There was a lack of replication of fire treatment effects in some studies. Nevertheless, most studies reported some consequence of fire on the fungal community. Studies on fire and fungi were concentrated in eucalypt forest in south-west and south-eastern Australia, and were lacking for ecosystems such as grasslands and tropical savannahs. The effects of fire on fungi are highly variable and depend on factors such as soil and vegetation type and variation in fire intensity and history, including the length of time between fires. There is a post-fire flush of fruit-bodies of pyrophilous macrofungi, but there are also fungi that prefer long unburnt vegetation. The few studies that tested the effect of fire regimes in relation to the intervals between burns did not yield consistent results. The functional roles of fungi in ecosystems and the interactions of fire with these functions are explained and discussed. Responses of fungi to fire are reviewed for each fungal trophic group, and also in relation to interactions between fungi and vertebrates and invertebrates. Recommendations are made to include monitoring of fungi in large-scale fire management research programs and to integrate the use of morphological and molecular methods of identification. Preliminary results suggest that fire mosaics promote heterogeneity in the fungal community. Management of substrates could assist in preserving fungal diversity in the absence of specific information on fungi.

scholarly journals Extinction coefficients retrieved in deep tropical ice clouds from lidar observations using a CALIPSO-like algorithm compared to in-situ measurements from the Cloud Integrated Nephelometer during CRYSTAL-FACE

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 10649-10672 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Noel ◽  
D. M. Winker ◽  
T. J. Garrett ◽  
M. McGill
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Crystal Face ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Extinction Coefficients ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Lidar Ratio ◽  
Deep Convective Systems

Abstract. This paper presents a comparison of lidar ratios and volume extinction coefficients in tropical ice clouds, retrieved using observations from two instruments: the 532-nm Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL), and the in-situ Cloud Integrating Nephelometer (CIN) probe. Both instruments were mounted on airborne platforms during the CRYSTAL-FACE campaign and took measurements up to 17 km. Coincident observations from two cases of ice clouds located on top of deep convective systems are compared. First, lidar ratios are retrieved from CPL observations of attenuated backscatter, using a retrieval algorithm for opaque cloud similar to one used in the soon-to-be launched CALIPSO mission, and compared to results from the regular CPL algorithm. These lidar ratios are used to retrieve extinction coefficient profiles, which are compared to actual observations from the CIN in-situ probe, putting the emphasis on their vertical variability. When observations coincide, retrievals from both instruments are very similar. Differences are generally variations around the average profiles, and general trends on larger spatial scales are usually well reproduced. The two instruments agree well, with an average difference of less than 11% on optical depth retrievals. Results suggest the CALIPSO Deep Convection algorithm can be trusted to deliver realistic estimates of the lidar ratio, leading to good retrievals of extinction coefficients.

scholarly journals Production of peroxy nitrates in boreal biomass burning plumes over Canada during the BORTAS campaign

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 3485-3497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcella Busilacchio ◽  
Piero Di Carlo ◽  
Eleonora Aruffo ◽  
Fabio Biancofiore ◽  
Cesare Dari Salisburgo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Fire Emissions ◽  
Fire Plumes ◽  
Peroxy Nitrates ◽  
In Fire ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The observations collected during the BOReal forest fires on Tropospheric oxidants over the Atlantic using Aircraft and Satellites (BORTAS) campaign in summer 2011 over Canada are analysed to study the impact of forest fire emissions on the formation of ozone (O3) and total peroxy nitrates ∑PNs, ∑ROONO2). The suite of measurements on board the BAe-146 aircraft, deployed in this campaign, allows us to calculate the production of O3 and of  ∑PNs, a long-lived NOx reservoir whose concentration is supposed to be impacted by biomass burning emissions. In fire plumes, profiles of carbon monoxide (CO), which is a well-established tracer of pyrogenic emission, show concentration enhancements that are in strong correspondence with a significant increase of concentrations of ∑PNs, whereas minimal increase of the concentrations of O3 and NO2 is observed. The ∑PN and O3 productions have been calculated using the rate constants of the first- and second-order reactions of volatile organic compound (VOC) oxidation. The ∑PN and O3 productions have also been quantified by 0-D model simulation based on the Master Chemical Mechanism. Both methods show that in fire plumes the average production of ∑PNs and O3 are greater than in the background plumes, but the increase of ∑PN production is more pronounced than the O3 production. The average ∑PN production in fire plumes is from 7 to 12 times greater than in the background, whereas the average O3 production in fire plumes is from 2 to 5 times greater than in the background. These results suggest that, at least for boreal forest fires and for the measurements recorded during the BORTAS campaign, fire emissions impact both the oxidized NOy and O3,  but (1 ∑PN production is amplified significantly more than O3 production and (2) in the forest fire plumes the ratio between the O3 production and the ∑PN production is lower than the ratio evaluated in the background air masses, thus confirming that the role played by the ∑PNs produced during biomass burning is significant in the O3 budget. The implication of these observations is that fire emissions in some cases, for example boreal forest fires and in the conditions reported here, may influence more long-lived precursors of O3 than short-lived pollutants, which in turn can be transported and eventually diluted in a wide area.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document