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Retrieval of biomass combustion rates and totals from fire radiative power observations: FRP derivation and calibration relationships between biomass consumption and fire radiative energy release

Retrieval of biomass combustion rates and totals from fire radiative power observations: FRP derivation and calibration relationships between biomass consumption and fire radiative energy release
Retrieval of biomass combustion rates and totals from fire radiative power observations: FRP derivation and calibration relationships between biomass consumption and fire radiative energy release
Estimates of wildfire aerosol and trace gas emissions are most commonly derived from assessments of biomass combusted. The radiative component of the energy liberated by burning fuel can be measured by remote sensing, and spaceborne fire radiative energy (FRE) measures can potentially provide detailed information on the amount and rate of biomass consumption over large areas. To implement the approach, spaceborne sensors must be able to derive fire radiative power (FRP) estimates from subpixel fires using observations in just one or two spectral channels, and calibration relationships between radiated energy and fuel consumption must be developed and validated. This paper presents results from a sensitivity analysis and from experimental fires conducted to investigate these issues. Within their methodological limits, the experimental work shows that FRP assessments made via independent hyperspectral and MIR radiance approaches in fact show good agreement, and fires are calculated to radiate 14 ± 3% [mean ± 1S.D.] of their theoretically available heat yield in a form capable of direct assessment by a nadir-viewing MIR imager. The relationship between FRE and fuel mass combusted is linear and highly significant (r2 = 0.98, n = 29, p < 0.0001), and FRP is well related to combustion rate (r2 = 0.90, n = 178, p < 0.0001), though radiation from the still-hot fuel bed can sometimes contribute significant FRP from areas where combustion has ceased. We conclude that FRE assessment offers a powerful tool for supplementing existing burned-area based fuel consumption measures, and thus shows significant promise for enhancing pyrogenic trace gas and aerosol emissions estimates
fire, radiative power, emissions
0148-0227
311
Wooster, M.J.
4b91034b-d585-49ec-85b2-0729f9bca9dc
Roberts, G.
fa1fc728-44bf-4dc2-8a66-166034093ef2
Perry, G.L.W.
32378d76-9d53-4b3e-856b-7c21fbd8f084
Kaufman, Y.J.
8aa7f422-1df5-4ab7-9296-5af575057c4e
Wooster, M.J.
4b91034b-d585-49ec-85b2-0729f9bca9dc
Roberts, G.
fa1fc728-44bf-4dc2-8a66-166034093ef2
Perry, G.L.W.
32378d76-9d53-4b3e-856b-7c21fbd8f084
Kaufman, Y.J.
8aa7f422-1df5-4ab7-9296-5af575057c4e

Wooster, M.J., Roberts, G., Perry, G.L.W. and Kaufman, Y.J. (2005) Retrieval of biomass combustion rates and totals from fire radiative power observations: FRP derivation and calibration relationships between biomass consumption and fire radiative energy release. Journal of Geophysical Research, 110 (D24), 311. (doi:10.1029/2005JD006318).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Estimates of wildfire aerosol and trace gas emissions are most commonly derived from assessments of biomass combusted. The radiative component of the energy liberated by burning fuel can be measured by remote sensing, and spaceborne fire radiative energy (FRE) measures can potentially provide detailed information on the amount and rate of biomass consumption over large areas. To implement the approach, spaceborne sensors must be able to derive fire radiative power (FRP) estimates from subpixel fires using observations in just one or two spectral channels, and calibration relationships between radiated energy and fuel consumption must be developed and validated. This paper presents results from a sensitivity analysis and from experimental fires conducted to investigate these issues. Within their methodological limits, the experimental work shows that FRP assessments made via independent hyperspectral and MIR radiance approaches in fact show good agreement, and fires are calculated to radiate 14 ± 3% [mean ± 1S.D.] of their theoretically available heat yield in a form capable of direct assessment by a nadir-viewing MIR imager. The relationship between FRE and fuel mass combusted is linear and highly significant (r2 = 0.98, n = 29, p < 0.0001), and FRP is well related to combustion rate (r2 = 0.90, n = 178, p < 0.0001), though radiation from the still-hot fuel bed can sometimes contribute significant FRP from areas where combustion has ceased. We conclude that FRE assessment offers a powerful tool for supplementing existing burned-area based fuel consumption measures, and thus shows significant promise for enhancing pyrogenic trace gas and aerosol emissions estimates

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Published date: 2005
Keywords: fire, radiative power, emissions

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 188489
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/188489
ISSN: 0148-0227
PURE UUID: 7fbeaf2c-38bc-47f4-b915-4b3b47fb4d5f
ORCID for G. Roberts: ORCID iD orcid.org/0009-0007-3431-041X

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Date deposited: 03 Jun 2011 10:52
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:39

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Contributors

Author: M.J. Wooster
Author: G. Roberts ORCID iD
Author: G.L.W. Perry
Author: Y.J. Kaufman

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