Monitoring air pollution from fires9 September 2019

Using Copernicus Sentinel-3 data, as part of theSentinel-3 World Fires Atlas, the image shows that 79000 fires were detected at night around the world in themonth of August 2019 compared to 16 632 fires inAugust 2018. Credit: contains modified CopernicusSentinel data (2019), processed by ESA on ONDACopernicus DIAS

The wildfires that have been devastating theAmazon rainforest have been internationalheadline news over the last weeks. These fires arenot only an environmental tragedy in terms of lostforest and biodiversity, but they are also leavingtheir mark on the atmosphere, affecting air qualityand, potentially, the global climate.

In light of the climate crisis, the loss of swathes offorest is a serious concern. Everyone on Earthbenefits from the health of rainforests like theAmazon. Trees acts as sinks for carbon, absorbingand storing atmospheric carbon dioxide—one of themain greenhouse gases—and therefore helping tocool the planet.

Consumed by fires in recent months, forests arereleasing much of the carbon dioxide they oncestored in their biomass back into the atmosphere.However, there are also a host of other pollutantsentering the air. The Copernicus Sentinel-5Pmission is being used to closely monitor thechanges in air quality.

The satellite carries the state-of-the-art Tropomiinstrument to map a multitude of trace gases suchas nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, sulphurdioxide, methane, carbon monoxide andaerosols—all of which affect the air we breathe.

Using data from Copernicus Sentinel-5P, the firstimage shows the difference in carbon monoxide inthe air between July and August. This pollutant isoften associated with traffic, but here we see theincrease in atmospheric concentrations followingthe fires. Naturally, once in the air, it can causeproblems for humans by reducing the amount ofoxygen that can be transported in the bloodstream.

Using data from Copernicus Sentinel-5P, the imageshows the difference in carbon monoxide in the airbetween July 2019 and August 2019 over the Amazon.This pollutant is often associated with traffic, but here wesee the increase in atmospheric concentrations followingthe fires. Naturally, once in the air, it can cause problemsfor humans by reducing the amount of oxygen that canbe transported in the bloodstream. Credit: containsmodified Copernicus data (2019), processed by SRON

The next image shows how much formaldehydewas released from fires this year compared to2018. The image also features Africa, which hasalso experienced more fires than last year.Formaldehyde is an important intermediate gas inthe oxidation of methane and other hydrocarbons.While it is short-lived in the atmosphere, it reactschemically to become a major source of carbonmonoxide—another harmful pollutant as just noted.

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The animation shows smoke and aerosols overBrazil. When breathed in these small particles canlead to cardiovascular conditions and lungproblems. Aerosols also affect the climate byscattering and absorbing of incoming sunlight andtrapping of outgoing long-wave radiation—andhence warming the planet. On 19–20 August, thesmoke from fires got so bad that the day appearedto be turned into night as São Paulo was plungedinto darkness.

With both air pollution and climate change majorglobal concerns, satellites play a key role inmonitoring the constituents of the atmosphere sothat authorities have access to accurate informationto help respond to incidents such as these recentfires and, ultimately, formulate environmentalpolicies.

Using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission, theimage shows how much formaldehyde was released fromwildfires in Brazil in August 2019 compared to August2018. The image also features Africa, which and has alsoexperienced fires. Formaldehyde is an important

intermediate gas in the oxidation of methane and otherhydrocarbons. While it is short-lived in the atmosphere, itreacts chemically to become a major source of carbonmonoxide – another harmful pollutant. Credit: containsmodified Copernicus data (2018/2019), processed byBIRA-IASB

While Copernicus Sentinel-5P monitors air quality,one of the satellite missions in the sameCopernicus family, Sentinel-3, is used to detectfires around the world. Data show that in August2019, there were 79000 fires around the worldcompared to 16632 in August 2018.

Josef Aschbacher, ESA's Director of EarthObservation programs, said, "Over the last months,we have observed more and more vegetation fireson our planet, in Brazil, Siberia, Greenland, Africa,Spain, Greece and many other places. Our Earthobservation satellites keep a close eye on them inorder to inform people and politicians withundisputed facts about our changing planet."

The animation shows aerosols over Brazil. Whenbreathed in these small particles can lead tocardiovascular conditions and lung problems. Aerosolsalso affect the climate by scattering and absorbing ofincoming sunlight and trapping of outgoing long-wave

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radiation – and hence warming the planet. On 19–20August the smoke from fires got so bad that the dayappeared to be turned into night as São Paulo wasplunged into darkness. Credit: contains modifiedCopernicus data (2019), processed by KNMI

Provided by European Space AgencyAPA citation: Monitoring air pollution from fires (2019, September 9) retrieved 26 April 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2019-09-air-pollution.html

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