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Estimates of NOx Emission Factors from GOME-2 Measurements for the Major Types of Open Biomass Burning

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Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach in Earth System Science

Part of the book series: Springer Earth System Sciences ((SPRINGEREARTH))

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Abstract

Vegetation fires across the globe, either started by lightning strikes or caused by humans, have various impacts on Earth systems such as the atmosphere and biosphere. A simple statistical approach to estimate emission factors (EFs) of NOx, based on the empirical relationship between satellite-observed tropospheric NO2 vertical columns (TVC NO2) and fire radiative power (FRP), is presented. The great advantage of the method is the partitioning of different NOx emission sources and the application to various biomes and regions. The estimated NOx EFs are 1.83, 1.48, 2.96, and 0.72 g kg−1 for tropical forest, savanna and grassland, crop residue, and boreal forest, respectively. There is overall agreement between the satellite-derived EFs and comparable values reported in the literature, suggesting that the assumptions made in the approach are reasonable. However, a substantial discrepancy is found for savanna and grassland, which is the most frequently burned land cover type on Earth. Possible implications of these differences for fire emission inventories are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Stefan F. Schreier, Andreas Richter & John P. Burrows

Authors
  1. Stefan F. Schreier
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  2. Andreas Richter
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  3. John P. Burrows
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefan F. Schreier .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Gerrit Lohmann

  2. Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Helge Meggers

  3. School of Engineering and Science, Jacobs University, Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Vikram Unnithan

  4. Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Dieter Wolf-Gladrow

  5. Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Justus Notholt

  6. Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Astrid Bracher

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Schreier, S.F., Richter, A., Burrows, J.P. (2015). Estimates of NOx Emission Factors from GOME-2 Measurements for the Major Types of Open Biomass Burning. In: Lohmann, G., Meggers, H., Unnithan, V., Wolf-Gladrow, D., Notholt, J., Bracher, A. (eds) Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach in Earth System Science. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13865-7_8

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