Case study analysis of biomass burning plumes observed over Brazil during SAMBBA, September 2012 Available to Purchase

Biomass burning is a huge source of atmospheric aerosols and is poorly understood leading to large uncertainties in estimates of radiative forcing of climate. Aerosols have both a direct effect on climate by reflecting and absorbing solar radiation and an indirect effect by acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN). Biomass burning aerosols are produced from burning of vegetation with the vast majority occurring in the tropics. This research presents data collected during the aircraft campaign of the South American Biomass Burning Analysis (SAMBBA) project during September and October 2012. A smouldering rainforest fire and a flaming savannah-like fire were selected for in-depth case studies of the atmospheric plume constituents and provide a comparison between the two fire types. The physiochemical characterization of the two plumes are identified, with preliminary results showing a significant difference in the black carbon concentration of the two plumes; 6μg m⁻³ for the smouldering rainforest fire and 50μg m⁻³ for the flaming savannah-like fire. However, organic matter concentrations were similar, peaking at 5mg m⁻³. Analysis of the gas phase data and calculations of emission ratios (ER) and modified combustion efficiencies (MCE) will be presented together with an analysis of black carbon mixing state using data from a single particle soot photometer and organic aerosol composition.