TY - JOUR
T1 - Analyzing the Impact of Evolving Combustion Conditions on the Composition of Wildfire Emissions Using Satellite Data
AU - Anderson, Lindsey D.
AU - Dix, Barbara
AU - Schnell, Jordan
AU - Yokelson, Robert
AU - Veefkind, J. Pepijn
AU - Ahmadov, Ravan
AU - de Gouw, Joost
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Wildfires have become larger and more frequent because of climate change, increasing their impact on air pollution. Air quality forecasts and climate models do not currently account for changes in the composition of wildfire emissions during the commonly observed progression from more flaming to smoldering combustion. Laboratory measurements have consistently shown decreased nitrogen dioxide (NO2) relative to carbon monoxide (CO) over time, as they transitioned from more flaming to smoldering combustion, while formaldehyde (HCHO) relative to CO remained constant. Here, we show how daily ratios between column densities of NO2 versus those of CO and HCHO versus CO from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) changed for large wildfires in the Western United States. TROPOMI-derived emission ratios were lower than those from the laboratory. We discuss reasons for the discrepancies, including how representative laboratory burns are of wildfires, the effect of aerosols on trace gas retrievals, and atmospheric chemistry in smoke plumes.
AB - Wildfires have become larger and more frequent because of climate change, increasing their impact on air pollution. Air quality forecasts and climate models do not currently account for changes in the composition of wildfire emissions during the commonly observed progression from more flaming to smoldering combustion. Laboratory measurements have consistently shown decreased nitrogen dioxide (NO2) relative to carbon monoxide (CO) over time, as they transitioned from more flaming to smoldering combustion, while formaldehyde (HCHO) relative to CO remained constant. Here, we show how daily ratios between column densities of NO2 versus those of CO and HCHO versus CO from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) changed for large wildfires in the Western United States. TROPOMI-derived emission ratios were lower than those from the laboratory. We discuss reasons for the discrepancies, including how representative laboratory burns are of wildfires, the effect of aerosols on trace gas retrievals, and atmospheric chemistry in smoke plumes.
KW - air quality
KW - biomass burning emissions
KW - remote sensing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85178888587&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2023GL105811
DO - 10.1029/2023GL105811
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85178888587
SN - 0094-8276
VL - 50
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
IS - 23
M1 - e2023GL105811
ER -