The present study evaluates the use of fire radiative energy (FRE) to estimate the emissions of particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2,5µm) from the multiplicative coefficient relating the biomass consumption with the released FRE. The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) products were utilized to calculate the total amount of aerosol emitted to the atmosphere. The CCATT-BRAMS (Coupled Chemistry-Aerosol-Tracer Transport model coupled to Brazilian Regional Atmospheric Modelling System) model was used to estimate the PM2,5µm concentration generated by biomass burning. The model results were compared with data obtained from the LBA (Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere), SMOCC (Smoke, Aerosols, Clouds, rainfall, and Climate) and RaCCI (Radiation, Cloud, and Climate Interactions) field experiments. The estimated PM2,5µm emission has a correlation with the SMOCC/RaCCI data greater than 92%. It was also verified that the maximum daily consumption can exceed 5 Tg (5,000,000 ton.), with a daily average of 2.1 Tg. The resulting method from laboratory analysis estimated a total of 0.28 ± 0.01 Pg (10(15) g) biomass consumed from July to November 2002 in South America.
Biomass consumption coefficient; biomass burning; fire radiative energy
