Interannual and Seasonal Variability of Greenhouse Gases and Aerosol Emissions from Biomass Burning in Northeastern China Constrained by Satellite Observations

Hongmei Zhao,Guangyi Yang,Xuelei Zhang,Shichun Zhang,Aijun Xiu,Daniel Q Tong

doi:10.3390/rs13051005

Abstract

Biomass burning is a major source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and particulate matter (PM) emissions in China. Despite increasing efforts of fire monitoring, it remains challenging to quantify the variability in interannual and seasonal emissions of GHGs and PM from biomass burning. In this study, we investigated the biomass burning emissions in Northeastern China based on fire radiative power (FRP) obtained from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites (VIIRS) active fires datasets during the period 2012 to 2019. Our results showed that the average annual emissions from biomass burning in Northeastern China during 2012–2019 were: 81.6 Tg for CO2, 260.2 Gg for CH4, 5.5 Gg for N2O, 543.2 Gg for PM2.5 and 573.6 Gg for PM10, respectively. Higher levels of GHGs and PM emissions were concentrated in the Songnen Plain and Sanjiang Plain, the main grain producing areas in this region, and were associated with dense fire points. There were two emission peaks observed each year: after harvesting (October to November) and before planting (March to April). During this study period, the total fire emissions initially increased and then decreased in a fluctuating pattern, with emissions peaking in 2015, the year when more emission regulations were introduced. Crop straw was the major source of GHGs and PM among all kinds of biomass burning. Following more stringent controls on burning and the utilization of crop straw, the main burning season changed from autumn to spring. The proportion from spring burning increased from 20.5% in 2013 to 77.1% in 2019, with an annual growth rate of 20%. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of regulatory control in reducing GHGs and PM emissions, as well as satellite fire observations as a powerful means to assess such outcomes.

Highlights

From the daily biomass burning emissions in 2018 (Figure 2), we found that all types of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosols showed higher emissions in March and April, with a second and lower peak in October
We estimated the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and particulate matter (PM)
Biomass burning contributed in large quantities to the emissions of GHGs, with average annual emissions of CO2, CH4 and nitrous oxide (N2 O) of 81,619.4 Gg, 260.2 Gg, and 5.5 Gg in Northeastern China, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Approximately 8.8 Pg of dry biomass is burned annually, with emissions of CO2 , CH4 and N2 O of 13.9 Pg yr−1 , 50 Tg −1 and 1.36 Tg −1 , respectively [2]. BB can contribute a large amount of chemically active gases (e.g., CO, NO, non-methane hydrocarbons) to the atmosphere at regional and global levels [2]. These gases lead to the chemical production of tropospheric ozone (another GHG), which can severely affect air quality and climate change. Emissions from biomass burning are a significant issue in the atmospheric environment field

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Conclusion