Estimates of carbon monoxide emissions from wildfires in northern Eurasia for airquality assessment and climate modeling

The emissions from fires in the boreal zone of northern Eurasia significantly contribute to the global emissions of greenhouse gases, their precursors, and aerosols. These emissions are an important component of the global carbon balance, and they significantly affect both seasonal and long-term variations in the chemical composition and radiation properties of the atmosphere on both regional and global scales. The atmospheric emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) from biomass burning have systematically been estimated for the entire territory of northern Eurasia over the period of 2000–2008 on the basis of satellite (MODIS MCD45A1) data on burned vegetation and the Seiler-Crutzen emission model with consideration for both regional and seasonal features. On the whole, for Russia, the annual emissions of CO from biomass burning ranged from 10.6 to 88.2 Mt/y over the indicated period. Depending on fire activity, the atmospheric emissions of CO from natural fires and agricultural work may yield from 25 to 200% of the total technogenic emissions according to the EDGAR-2000 model. In this case, the dominant contribution is made by boreal forest fires (8–57 Mt/y), whose portion amounts to 63–76% of the total emissions from biomass burning. This relatively short observational series does not allow one to reliably estimate long-term variations; however, on the whole, a stable increase in burned areas has been observed in forest, steppe, and agricultural regions over the last decade. Our analysis suggests significant spatial and seasonal variations in the large-scale fields of fire emissions, which are determined by the physical, geographic, and climatic features of individual regions. The calculated fields of emissions can be used in transport-chemical models, studies of the regional transport and quality of air, and climate models.     

Water-vapor content in the atmosphere over European Russia during the summer 2010 fires

We study the water vapor (WV) content over European Russia (ER) during the period of forest and peatbog fires in July–August 2010 using total column water vapor observations from MODIS instruments (both Aqua and Terra platforms) as well as aerological data and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. It is found that the spatial distribution of total column water vapor (TCWV) over ER in this period was anomalous, with the WV excess in the north of the territory and its deficit in the south of ER. The relationship between WV variations, atmospheric dynamics and the fire situation is analyzed. Along with the processes of the WV advection and evaporation we evaluate the contribution of pyrogenic emission of WV in spatial-temporal evolution of WV over ER during wildfires. The changes of water vapor at different heights in the troposphere and stratosphere are investigated. The results of a comparative analysis of WV contents during the periods of summertime atmospheric blockings in 1972 and 2010 are also presented. The near-infrared total-column precipitable water MODIS products (L3) are validated by upper-air radiosonde data.     

Satellite monitoring of trace gas and aerosol emissions during wildfires in Russia

Peculiarities of the formation of carbon gas and fine aerosol emissions into the atmosphere during wildfires are analyzed. A prompt satellite monitoring system and technique for the assessment of burnt areas and volumes of CO₂, CO, and PM_2.5 emissions from wildfires are described. The results of satellite monitoring of the Russian Federation and some Russian regions for different months over 2010–2014 are given; burnt areas and volumes of carbon gas and aerosol emissions throughout the entire territory are assessed. The peculiarities of seasonal frequencies of wildfires and volumes of hazardous gas and fine aerosol emissions in the regions under study are identified.     

Investigation of the 2010 July–August fires impact on carbon monoxide atmospheric pollution in Moscow and its outskirts, estimating of emissions

We investigate the air pollution in the central European part of Russia during the 2010 summer fires. The results of ground-based (Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Moscow State University (MSU), and Zvenigorod Scientific Station (ZSS)) and satellite (MOPITT, AIRS, of Terra and Aqua satellites) measurements of the total content and concentration of carbon monoxide (CO), as well as MODIS data on the spatial and temporal distribution of forest and peat fires obtained from Terra and Aqua satellites, are presented. A comparison between similar situations in 2010 and 2002 revealed the causes of higher pollution levels in 2010. The use of trajectory analysis, detailed space imagery, and model calculations made it possible to reveal the location of peat fires and their contribution to the air pollution over the Moscow megalopolis. Fireemission estimates were obtained using two independent methods.     

System analysis of weather fire danger in predicting large fires in Siberian forests

The prediction results of large-scale forest fire development are given for Siberia. To evaluate the fire risks, the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System (CFFWIS) and the Russian moisture indices (MI1 and MI2) were compared on the basis of the data of a network of meteorological stations as input weather parameters. Parameters of active fires were detected daily from the NOAA satellite data for the period of 1996–2008. To determine the length of the fire danger season, the snow cover fractions from Terra/MODIS data (2001–2008) were used. The features of fire development on territories with different types of flammable fuel are considered. The statistical analysis of the areas and number of fires typical of each vegetation class is made with the use of the GLC2000 vegetation map. A positive correlation (∼0.45, p < 0.05) between the cumulative area of local fires and the MI1 and Canadian BUI and DMC indices is revealed. The Canadian ISI and FWI indices describe best the diurnal dynamics of fire areas. The above correlations are higher (∼0.62, p < 0.05) when we select the fires larger than 2000–10000 ha in size for the forested areas. Other cases point to the lack of a linear relation between the fire area and the values of all indices, because the fire spread depends on many natural and anthropogenic factors.     

The effect of atmospheric circulation on the evolution and radiative forcing of smoke aerosol over European Russia during the summer of 2010

The evolution of smoke plume over European Russia (ER) during the massive forest and peatbog fires of summer 2010 has been studied using observations of aerosol optical depth (AOD) from MODIS instruments (both Aqua and Terra platforms), objective analysis of meteorological fields performed at the Russian Hydrometeorological Research Center, NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, as well as upper air data. A relation between the structure inhomogeneities of the AOD field and regional atmospheric circulation has been found. It is shown that, on August 5–9, 2010, the maximum of smoke pollution did complete turn around Moscow, while remaining at a distance of 200 to 650 km from the megacity. Both regionally averaged shortwave aerosol radiative forcings (ARFs) at the top and the bottom of the atmosphere are estimated for the period of extreme smoke pollution over ER. The spatial distributions of ARF values over the territory of the region and the estimates of the local and spatially distributed thermal effects of smoke aerosol are given. It is shown that, on August 5–9, 2010, the spatial distribution of AOD and the calculated thermal effects of smoke aerosol were in agreement with the spatial distributions of air-temperature anomalies observed in the lower 1.5-km layer of the atmosphere. MODIS’s AOD data obtained during the wildfires were validated by AOD observations from the CIMEL sun photometer operated at the AERONET station Zvenigorod.     

2000～2010 年环渤海省市海岸带土地利用变化分析

作为陆海生态系统的交错带,海岸带是地表生态系统最为脆弱的地带,研究海岸带土地利用变化具有重要意义。以环渤海省市海岸带为研究区,基于2000、2005和2010年的Landsat TM/ETM遥感影像进行多时相海岸带土地利用制图,进而分析10 a间的土地利用变化特征,包括土地利用结构、土地利用动态度、土地利用程度区域差异和海陆梯度、海陆格局变化等特征。结果表明:(1)环渤海省市海岸带土地利用以耕地、建设用地和人工湿地为主,2010年比例分别为36.09%、17.16%和15.72%,不同行政单元及不同缓冲带之间土地利用结构空间差异明显。(2)2000~2005年、2005~2010年,土地利用发生转移的面积分别为2 126.419 km2和3 092.39 km2,建设用地扩展占用耕地、人工湿地和滨海自然湿地,以及滨海自然湿地变为人工湿地是主导的变化过程,但不同行政单元及不同缓冲带之间土地利用变化的空间差异明显。(3)2000~2005年、2005~2010年,综合土地利用动态度分别为0.73%和1.06%,17个地市级行政单元综合土地利用动态度以东营和天津较高,各缓冲带内综合土地利用动态度均为随时间不断增加,空间上则由海向陆波动下降。(4)2000~2010年,土地利用程度总体上不断升高,表明海岸带土地利用处于发展期,除沧州和潍坊,其他区域土地利用程度随时间不断上升;各缓冲带土地利用程度均随时间不同程度增长,空间上则由海向陆波动上升。     

Satellite Monitoring of Burnt-out Areas and Emissions of Harmful Contaminants Due to Forest and Other Wildfires in Russia

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - In this paper we summarize the results of the satellite monitoring of various types of wildfires, as well as emissions of carbon-containing the CO and...     

Satellite monitoring of wildfires during the anomalous heat wave of 2010 in Russia

We describe the specific features of the summer 2010 emergency conditions in the European part of the Russian Federation, when an anomalous heat wave (the monthly mean temperatures in the summer months were 5–9°C higher than those for 2002–2009) and prolonged blocking anticyclones led to large wildfires. We analyze their causes and consequences. The features of the satellite system for operational fire monitoring (constructed at the Aerospace Scientific Center) and examples of its application in summer 2010 are presented. On the basis of the results of processing of satellite images of low (250–1000 m), medium (∼30–50 m), and high (∼6 m) resolutions, we found that the total area covered by fire from March to November of 2010 amounted to approximately 10.9 million hectares for the entire territory of the country and and 2.2 million hectares for its European part. Daily histograms of areas covered by fire in the summer months of 2010 were constructed. On the basis of these data and empirical models, we estimate the daily emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) from wildfires in the summer months of 2010 for the European part of Russia and Moscow oblast. On some days in August 2010, these emissions reached 15000–27000 t for the European part of Russia and 3000–7500 t for Moscow oblast. On the basis of analysis of data from the AIRS spectrometer (Aqua satellite), we derived the spatial distribution of CO concentrations at heights of 2 to 10 km above the territory of the Eastern and Central Europe. Moscow was shown to have been most severely affected by smoke from wildfires occurring on August 6–9, 2010, when the concentrations of harmful gases (CO₂, CO, CH₄, and O₃) and aerosols in the air significantly exceeded both the daily and the one-hour maximum allowable concentrations.     

Estimation of vegetation structure and its anthropogenic transformation by processing QuickBird images: A case study of the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok

A new method for forest mapping utilizing high-resolution satellite images has been developed by a case study of the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok. Guided classifications of summer and fall QuickBird images, overlay operations, and grid density analysis form the background for this method. This method was used to construct maps of forest density and quantitative ratios of softwood to hardwood tree species. A comparison with the traditional geobotanical mapping has demonstrated several advantages of the remote sensing approach (including the precise definition of boundaries as well as high accuracy of estimation of the canopy density and the ratio of soft- to hardwood tree species) and shortcomings. The proposed method is not intended to replace but rather supplement and quantitatively improve the traditional approach. Matching the integral forest map and the corresponding geological-geomorphological map makes it possible to reveal the correlations between specific geomorphological features of the area, the composition of surface deposits, and the forest stand structure and thus estimate the degree of anthropogenic transformation in the natural forest ecosystems. In turn, this may be useful when organizing ecosystem monitoring.     

上海大金山岛植被资源状况及保护对策

大金山岛是上海海域存留天然植被较完整的海岛,对其现状进行调查和分析有助于制定具有针对性的海岛植被保护策略。文章基于21个样地的调查,将大金山岛植被划分为常绿阔叶林、常绿落叶阔叶混交林、落叶阔叶林、落叶灌丛和草丛5个植被类型14个群落类型。地带性森林群落径级结构和物种多样性特征分析表明,大金山岛森林群落结构相对稳定、物种多样性较高。为进一步完善大金山岛的植被保护措施,需加强植被分类与制图、量化典型植物种群大小和分布特征、跟踪管理大径材树木生长和健康状况、开展植被和动物综合调查以及植被动态长期监测的研究和管理。     

Studying changes of ice coasts in the European Arctic

The present extent of European ice coasts, their spatial changes in the past 50 years and the velocities of ice flow in marginal parts of tidewater glaciers were determined and mapped at a regional scale using space-borne image data, both optical and radar. The methods of satellite photogrammetry and radar interferometry provided efficient solutions to the integral estimation of ice-coast dynamics in the Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and Svalbard archipelagos. Studies revealed significant degradation of the ice coasts (–7.7% by length) compared to the situation represented in the available maps. The results obtained in the laboratory were verified during several field campaigns.     

基于RS 和GIS 的近代黄河三角洲滩涂变化分析

黄河携带泥沙入海不断淤积而形成丰富的滩涂是三角洲地区重要的后备土地资源, 掌握滩涂的空间分布及演化特征对合理开发滩涂, 加强滩涂资源的保护和可持续利用, 促进黄河三角洲高效生态经济区发展都有重要意义。选取近代黄河三角洲地区1989 年和2000 年landsat TM/ETM+影像, 利用基于专家知识的监督、目视判读分类方法, 提取了两个时期内不同行政区域和不同自然岸段的黄河三角洲滩涂信息。通过土地利用类型转换矩阵分析了滩涂与其他土地利用类型间的相互转化关系, 得出1989～2000 年间, 黄河三角洲中潮位滩涂主要向林草地(15.9%)、海域(12%)、其他用地(7%, 含已围待用地)和养殖、盐田用地(6.3%)等土地利用类型转化; 同时又有36.5%的海域、6.5%的水域和2.5%的林草地转化为滩涂; 而总体上滩涂面积呈减少趋势, 减少面积为246.42 km²。海洋动力作用、黄河断流、人类活动是致使滩涂面积减少的主要因素。     

Investigation of a method for predicting AUV derivatives

The paper addresses the problem of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) modelling and parameter estimation as a means to predict the dynamic performance of underwater vehicles and thus provide solid guidelines during their design phase. The use of analytical and semi-empirical (ASE) methods to estimate the hydrodynamic derivatives of a popular class of AUVs is discussed. A comparison is done with the results obtained by using computational fluid dynamics to evaluate the bare hull lift force distribution around a fully submerged body. An application is made to the estimation of the hydrodynamic derivatives of the MAYA AUV, an autonomous underwater vehicle developed under a joint Indian-Portuguese project. The estimates obtained were used to predict the turning diameter of the vehicle during sea trials.     

Study of the factors determining anomalous variability of carbon dioxide total column amount over St. Petersburg

Results of spectroscopic measurements of the carbon dioxide total column amount near St. Petersburg during forest fires in the period from August to September 2002 are analyzed. The HYSPLIT model is used to calculate air-mass trajectories and CO distribution on a mesoscale in this period. The HYSPLIT model simulations and measurements of carbon dioxide total column amount yield an estimate of the specific intensity of CO emission in a Pskov forest fire on August 28–September 8, 2002, equal to 0.17–0.26 kg m². This estimate can be used for an estimation of the integral CO emission from fires in northwestern Russian forests and for model simulations of atmospheric CO concentration fields. The estimate of the CO emission from forest fires that is obtained from ground-based measurements can also be made on the basis of satellite measurements if they contain information on CO in the lower tropospheric layers (0 to 2 km).     

Aerosol optical thickness and the total carbon monoxide content over the European Russia territory in the 2010 summer period of mass fires: Interrelation between the variation in pollutants and meteorological parameters

The spatial and temporal variabilities of the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and the total carbon monoxide content (CO) in the period of development and weakening of mass forest and peatbog fires in the European Russia territory (ERT) in the summer of 2010 are investigated from data of the AOT and CO satellite observations. The intensities of aerosol and CO emissions in the period of mass fires and the ratio of the emission factors of aerosol particles and CO are estimated on the basis of calculations of the smoke and CO masses over the ERT. The interrelation between variations in the levels of the regional pollution by combustion products and the variability of meteorological parameters is investigated. Various aspects of the manifestation of radiation effects of aerosols are discussed. The synchronization of weekly signals of the AOT, CO, and meteorological parameters in the period of mass fires is noted.     

MODIS水色产品在中国黄、东海海域应用研究

An extensive study collected in situ data along the Yellow Sea(YS) and East China Sea(ECS) to assess the radiometric properties and the concentration of the water constituents derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS). Thirteen high quality match-ups were obtained for evaluating the MODIS estimates of Rrs(λ), chlorophyll a(Chl a) and concentrations of suspended particulate sediment matter(SPM). For MODIS Rrs(λ), the mean absolute percentage difference(APD) was in the range of 20%–36%, and the highest uncertainty appeared at 412 nm, whereas the band ratio of Rrs(λ) at 488 nm compared with that at 547 nm was highly consistent, with an APD of 7%. A combination of near-infrared bands and shortwave infrared wavelengths atmosphere correction algorithm(NIR-SWIR algorithm) was applied to the MODIS data, and the estimation accuracy of Rrs were improved at most of the visible spectral bands except 645 nm, 667 nm and 678 nm. Two ocean-colour empirical algorithms for Chl a estimation were applied to the processed data, the results indicated that the accuracy of the derived Chl a values was obviously improved, the four-band algorithms outperformed the other algorithm for measured and simulated datasets, and the minimum APD was 35%. The SPM was also quantified. Two regional and two coastal SPM algorithms were modified according to the in situ data. By comparison, the modified Tassan model had a higher accuracy for the application along the YS and ECS with an APD of 21%. However, given the limited match-up dataset and the potential influence of the aerosol properties on atmosphere correction, further research is required to develop additional algorithms especially for the low Chl a coastal water.     

Surveillance of waste disposal activity at sea using satellite ocean color imagers: GOCI and MODIS

Korean Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua observations of the variation in ocean color at the sea surface were utilized to monitor the impact of nutrient-rich sewage sludge disposal in the oligotrophic area of the Yellow Sea. MODIS revealed that algal blooms persisted in the spring annually at the dump site in the Yellow Sea since year 2000 to the present. A number of implications of using products of the satellite ocean color imagers were exploited here based on the measurements in the Yellow Sea. GOCI observes almost every hour during the daylight period, every day since June 2011. Therefore, GOCI provides a powerful tool to monitor waste disposal at sea in real time. Tracking of disposal activity from a large tanker was possible hour by hour from the GOCI timeseries images compared to MODIS. Smaller changes in the color of the ocean surface can be easily observed, as GOCI resolves images at smaller scales in space and time in comparison to polar orbiting satellites, e.g., MODIS. GOCI may be widely used to monitor various marine activities in the sea, including waste disposal activity from ships.     

Total content of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere over Russian regions according to satellite data

Carbon monoxide (CO) total columns over European Russia (ER) and western Siberia (WS) have been analyzed using MOPITT (V5, TIR/NIR, L3) IR-radiometer data obtained in 2000–2014. High CO contents are revealed over large urban and industrial agglomerations and over regions of oil-and-gas production. A stable local CO maximum is observed over the Moscow agglomeration. Statistical characteristics of CO total columns observed in the atmosphere over ER and WS in 2000–2014 are presented. An analysis of long-term changes in CO content reveals nonlinear changes in the CO total column over northern Eurasia in 2000–2014. Results of a comparative analysis of annual variations in atmospheric CO contents over ER and WS are given. Based on Fourier analysis, empirical models of annual variations in total CO contents over ER and WS are proposed. Relations between regional CO contents and fire characteristics and between spatial CO distributions and features of large-scale atmospheric dynamics under conditions of weather and climate anomalies in the summers of 2010 in ER and 2012 in WS are analyzed. Data on total CO contents measured with a MOPITT satellite radiometer and a ground-based spectrometer operating at the Zvenigorod Scientific Station of the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics are compared.     

Time variations of the total CO content in the atmosphere near St. Petersburg

We analyzed measurements of the total carbon monoxide (CO) content in the atmosphere in the region of St. Petersburg (59.88°N, 29.83° E; 20 m above sea level) in the period from 1995 to 2009. The average annual behavior for the entire measurement period has a maximum in February–March and a minimum in July with an amplitude of ～20%. In the absence of strong forest fires in the European part of the Russian Federation and Siberia, the annual minimum of the total CO content is usually recorded in August–September. In winter 1995–2009 (November–January), there was a decrease in the total CO content with a gradual shift in the maximum of the annual behavior from January (1995–1999) to February (2000–2004) and March (2005–2009). The total CO content in January–February 2009 was ～20% lower than the multiyear average level. Estimates of the linear trend for the maximum, minimum, and average values for the period of 1996–2009 showed an absence of statistically significant long-term changes in the total CO content. A spectral analysis of data showed that the spectral components with periods of 12, 14, 17, 24, and 46 months are extracted with 80% confidence. It is shown that the irregular component of the time series of the total CO content (calculated for the period from May to September) agrees well with data on the areas of the forest fires and on the volume of the burnt forest and that 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2009 can be considered “background” years with the least numbers of forest fires.