Abstract
Abstract. A series of wildfires broke out in Western Russia starting in late July of 2010. Harmful particulates and gases released into the local Russian atmosphere have been reported, as have possible negative consequences for the global atmosphere. In this study, an extremely hazy area and its transport trajectory on Russian wildfires were analysed using aerosol optical depth (AOD) images retrieved via the synergy method from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. In addition, we used trace gases (NO2 and SO2) and CO2 products measured using Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) data, vertical distribution of AOD data retrieved from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) data, the mass trajectory analyses, synoptic maps from a HYSPLIT model simulation and ground-based data, including AERONET (both AOD and Ångström exponent) data and PM2.5. First, an Optimal Smoothing (OS) scheme was used to develop more precise and reliable AOD data based on multiple competing predictions made using several AOD retrieval models; then, integrated AOD and PM2.5 data were related using a chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem), and the integrated AOD and visibility data were related using the 6S radiative transfer code. The results show that the PM2.5 concentration is enhanced by a factor of 3–5 as determined from both satellite and in situ observations with peak daily mean concentrations of approximately 500 μg m3. Also, the visibility in many parts of Russia, for instance in Moscow, was less than 100 m; in some areas, the visibility was less than 50 m. Additionally, the possible impact on neighbouring countries due to long-transport was analysed for 31 July and 15 August 2010. A comparison of the satellite aerosol products and ground observations from the neighbouring countries suggests that wildfires in Western Russian had little impact on most european and asian countries, the exceptions being Finland, Estonia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. However, a possible impact on the Arctic region was identified; such an effect would have a serious influence on the polar atmospheric enviroment, and on animals such as polar bears.
Highlights
Biomass burning is the burning of living and dead vegetation
Extensive fire activities occurred during late July to August in 2010 over Western Russia
Environ. and regional transport to Asia and Europe were analysed in this study using multiple satellite remote sensing products (MODIS aerosol optical depth (AOD), PM2.5, Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) AOD and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) CO2, SO2, NO2) and surface observation tools (AERONET AOD, Angstrom exponent and in situ measurements of PM2.5) together with synoptic data
Summary
Biomass burning is the burning of living and dead vegetation. The total global burned area was an estimated 3.5 million km in the year 2000 (Tansey et al, 2008), 2.97– 3.74 million km in 2001–2004 (Giglio et al, 2006), between 3.5 million km and 4.5 million km during 2005 and 2007 (Tansey et al, 2008) and between 3.3 and 4.31 million km in 2008 (Giglio et al, 2010). Biomass burning is known to be a major contributor to the global budgets of several trace gases and greenhouse gases, including carbon monoxide (CO) (Nam et al, 2010), CO2 (Freitas et al, 2005; Murdiyarso, 1993; Alleaume, 2005), CH4 (Alleaume, 2005) and nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) (Bruzzone, 2003). It contributes aerosol particles, which are a major source of volatile organic compounds and organic halogen compounds (Crutzen and Andreae, 1990; Trentmann et al, 2001; Freitas et al, 2005). Some authors estimate even larger figures of up to 100 000–120 000 km (Conard and Ivanova, 1988)
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