Particulate and Gas Emissions from Wildfires in the Southern Amazon, from 2020 to 2022, from GOES-16 Fire Radiative Power Retrievals

This study delves
into the Amazon Basin, which is pivotal
for global
climate regulation but is threatened by human activities. This work
uses geostationary satellite GOES-16 data from 2020 to 2022 to study
fire patterns and emissions in the southern Amazon. The Fire/Hotspot
Characterization algorithm processes GOES-16’s Advanced Baseline
Imager data, providing insights into fire dynamics with an unparalleled
temporal resolution of 10 min. This allows one to retrieve a more
accurate temporal evolution of wildfire radiative power, and emission
estimates, than previous efforts based on polar satellites. Results
for 2020 show an average burn activity radiative power cycle duration
of approximately 4.56 h, temperature ranges estimated for the flaming
(829 K to 1188 K) and smoldering phases (433 K to 686 K), and an average
active fire area size of 0.464 km2. Using the FEER (Fire
Energetics and Emissions Research) emission inventory, emissions for
CO2, CO, CH4, and TPM (Total Particulate Matter)
during peak fire activity (days of the year 150–350) were estimated.
Between 2020 and 2022, the yearly total emissions increased from 434.7
to 523.8 Tg for CO2, 27.91 to 33.63 Tg for CO, 1.744 to
2.102 Tg for CH4, and 2.33 to 2.81 Tg for TPM. The outcomes
enhance understanding of Amazon wildfires, their emission fluxes,
and environmental implications, contributing valuable insights to
the complex Amazon Basin ecosystem.