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Impact of Amazonian Fires on Atmospheric CO 2
Author(s) -
Jiang Xun,
Li KingFai,
Liang MaoChang,
Yung Yuk L.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2020gl091875
Subject(s) - amazon rainforest , environmental science , rainforest , amazonian , dry season , atmospheric sciences , tropical rainforest , precipitation , biomass burning , carbon sink , climatology , meteorology , geography , aerosol , climate change , geology , ecology , oceanography , cartography , biology
Amazon rainforest fires have significant environmental and societal impacts, but the mechanism and impact of the fires on the regional and global carbon cycles have not been fully understood. Over the rainforest, less precipitation, higher surface temperature, and enhanced mid‐tropospheric sinking air over the eastern part of the Amazon characterized the fire/dry season. These meteorological conditions will facilitate more fires in the Amazon rainforest. Using the Orbiting Carbon Observatory‐2 column CO 2 , we notice that there are ∼2 ppm more CO 2 over the Amazon compared with the surrounding area during the fire season. The higher concentrations of atmospheric CO 2 are related to the surface biomass burning, enhanced sinking air over the eastern part of the Amazon, and surface winds. Results from this study can help us better understand the carbon sources and sinks over the Amazon during the fire/dry season.