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Trace Gas Emissions from Biomass Burning in Southern Africa’s Savannah

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Biomass Burning in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Abstract

Savannah is the most extensive biome supporting fires in Africa and thus contributes to the largest source of trace gas emissions. The relative proportion of trace gases emission varies in response to the ease in which biomass can burn, as determined by fuel moisture, size, type and load. As a result, this chapter determines the effects of fuel moisture, type, size and load on CO2, CO and NOx emissions during biomass burning in southern Africa’s savannah. Data used was obtained from the SAFARI 2000 collaborative research project on biomass burning emissions over southern Africa. The study covers southern African countries such as South Africa, Zambia, Namibia and Malawi. Results show that fuel moisture content is an essential factor that determines fuel burning behaviour and thus emissions of trace gases. Emissions of CO2, CO and NOx are high when fuel moisture content is smaller than 5%, and then decline with an increase in moisture above that level. Burning of bush fuels (larger than 4 cm) and branches (smaller than 2 cm) result in high emission of CO2, CO and NOx, as opposed to the emissions resulting from the burning of grasses and litter. It is further shown that an increase in dry fuel load positively increases the emission of CO2 (R2 = 0.205), CO (R2 = 0.252) and NOx (R2 = 0.161).

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Acknowledgements

This chapter is made possible through the SAFARI 2000 emission database. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is thanked for making the SAFARI 2000 data accessible to the public. Prof. Robert Scholes (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), Prof. Jurgen Lobert (Entegris Inc.), Prof. Bill Keene (University of Virginia) and Prof. Aifheli Gelebe (University of Limpopo) are acknowledged for providing valuable comments during the initial draft of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, P/Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane, South Africa

    Rudzani A. Makhado

  2. Quality Assurance and Promotion, Council for Higher Education, P.O Box 94, Persequor Park, 0020, South Africa

    Amani T. Saidi

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  1. Rudzani A. Makhado
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Correspondence to Rudzani A. Makhado .

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  1. School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa

    Liliana Mammino

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Makhado, R.A., Saidi, A.T. (2020). Trace Gas Emissions from Biomass Burning in Southern Africa’s Savannah. In: Mammino, L. (eds) Biomass Burning in Sub-Saharan Africa. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0808-2_3

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