A Complex Approach for the Estimation of Carbonaceous Emissions from Wildfires in Siberia

A complex approach is considered to the estimation of emissions of carbon gases formed during wildfires in the middle taiga subzone in the Yenisei region of Siberia. Based on the large-scale Siberian wildfires in 2012, the relative contribution of emissions to the values of background concentration of carbon gases (CO₂, CH₄, CO) in the atmospheric boundary layer measured at the 300-m ZOTTO tall tower is assessed. The degree of ecosystem damage caused by wildfires is estimated depending on their intensity and combustion phase (flame or flameless). Emission factors are calculated for the major carbon gases in wildfire plumes which are the key component for assessing wildfire emissions to the atmosphere.     

Interannual Variability of Atmospheric CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Concentrations over Central Siberia from ZOTTO Data for 2009–2015

The interannual variations in the characteristics of the seasonal cycle (annual and seasonal amplitudes, winter emission, dates of annual minimum and maximum, and phase) and in the growth rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration over Central Siberia are analyzed for the period from May 2009 to January 2016. The results are based on the continuous monitoring of CO₂ concentration at the Zotino Tall Tower Observatory (ZOTTO, www.zottoproject.org). It is found that the seasonal amplitude of CO₂ concentration in the atmo spheric surface layer over Western Siberia is 26.4 ± 0.8 μmol/mol (no long-term trend toward its increase was revealed), the annual mean growth rate of CO₂ is 2.34 μmol/mol per year, its variations range from 1 to 4 μmol/mol per year.     

Sources,seasonal variability,and trajectories of atmospheric aerosols over central Siberian forest ecosystems

The possibility to obtain reliable data on the chemical and physical characteristics of aerosols and the regularities in the processes of their formation and transportation under the background natural-climatic conditions is a necessary requirement for verification of existing climate models [1, 2].