Every year large areas of the globe are submitted to the action of anthropogenic and natural fires. It is estimated that more than 100 million tons of aerosols from smoke are emitted into the atmosphere, which 80% occur in tropical regions of the globe. The process of biomass burning releases into the atmosphere trace gases and aerosol particles that affect significantly the air quality, the tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry, the radiation balance and the dynamics and microphysics of clouds. This study aims to use the fire radiative energy (FRE) derived from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) to estimate emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 micrometer (PM2.5µm) for 2002 South America fires, and to model these emissions in CCATT-BRAMS (Coupled Chemistry-Aerosol-Tracer Transport model coupled to Brazilian Regional Atmospheric Modeling System). With a correlation greater than 86% between the aerosol emission data (in kg.s -1) and the FRE (MJ.s -1), three coefficients for GOES satellite data were originated. The use of FRE and emission coefficients to estimate the PM2.5µm m and CO emitted in biomass burning showed a correlation of approximately 91 % between modeled data and the data used as ground truth obtained from LBA (Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazônia) SMOCC (Smoke, Aerosols, Clouds, rainfall, and Climate) and RaCCI (Radiation, Cloud, and Climate Interactions).
fire radiative energy; MODIS; GOES
