Remote sensing of biomass burning in the Amazon

Abstract

Abstract Satellite remote sensing is used to study biomass burning in the Amazon and its effects on the atmosphere. Although the NOAA‐AVHRR sensor was not designed as a quantitative tool to observe atmospheric and surface radiative properties, it is used successfully to observe fires, smoke particles, and the microphysics of clouds that are affected by the smoke. Trace gases emitted in the process of biomass burning are not observed by existing satellite sensors. Therefore, in order to measure the rate of emission of trace gases, detailed relationships between the emission of trace gases and smoke particles were measured in field experiments in Brazil. The field studies provide first‐order estimates of the relationships needed to evaluate the satellite data, and are also used to test and validate the satellite measurements. In this paper, satellite remote sensing of biomass burning in the Amazon is reviewed. Previous analysis of the NOAA‐AVHRR data for the emissions of trace gases and particles from fires...