Intraseasonal variability of greenhouse gas emission factors from biomass burning in the Brazilian Cerrado

Research on biomass burning in the Brazilian Cerrado's Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks reveals that intraseasonal variability in greenhouse gas emission factors (EFs) may only slightly offset carbon mitigation gains from early dry season (EDS) prescribed fires. Using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-mounted sampling system, the study analyzed over 800 smoke samples during EDS and late dry season (LDS), finding no statistically significant differences in CO₂, CO, CH₄, or N₂O EFs between seasons. However, N₂O EFs for open Cerrado were notably lower than previously estimated, suggesting potential overestimation of fire contributions to the N₂O budget. The findings imply that while EDS burning may reduce burned area and carbon consumption, its greenhouse gas mitigation benefits are limited by intraseasonal EF variability.

Vernooij, R., Giongo, M., Borges, M. A., Costa, M. M., Barradas, A. C. S., & van der Werf, G. R. (2021). Intraseasonal variability of greenhouse gas emission factors from biomass burning in the Brazilian Cerrado. Biogeosciences, 18(4), 1375–1393. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-1375-2021