Biomass Burning over Africa: How to Explain the Differences Observed Between the Different Emission Inventories?

Biomass burning (BB) results from complex interactions between ecosystems, humans, and climate, releasing large amounts of gases and particles. Accurate BB emission estimates are essential for air quality, climate studies, and impact assessments. Various existing bottom-up BB emission inventories sh...

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Main Authors: Toure E. N’Datchoh, Cathy Liousse, Laurent Roblou, A. Brigitte N’Dri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Atmosphere
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/4/440
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author Toure E. N’Datchoh
Cathy Liousse
Laurent Roblou
A. Brigitte N’Dri
author_facet Toure E. N’Datchoh
Cathy Liousse
Laurent Roblou
A. Brigitte N’Dri
author_sort Toure E. N’Datchoh
collection DOAJ
description Biomass burning (BB) results from complex interactions between ecosystems, humans, and climate, releasing large amounts of gases and particles. Accurate BB emission estimates are essential for air quality, climate studies, and impact assessments. Various existing bottom-up BB emission inventories show significant discrepancies, varying by factors of 2 to 4 due to uncertainties in burned areas (BAs), emission factors (EFs), and vegetation parameters such as biomass density (BD) and burning efficiency (BE). Here, we investigate the role of vegetation parameters in these discrepancies in Africa. Two BB emission inventories, AMMABB-like (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis Biomass Burning) and GFED-like (Global Fire Emission Database) were developed for Organic Carbon (OC) and Black Carbon (BC). Both inventories used identical fire products, vegetation maps, and EF but different BD and BE values. Results highlight substantial differences in BD and BE, with relative gaps ranging from 44% to 85.12%, explaining the observed differences between BB emission inventories. Key vegetation classes responsible for BB emissions were identified. Discrepancies of 2.4 to 3.9 times were observed between AMMABB-like and GFED4-like, with higher values in the Southern Hemisphere. Better BD and BE estimates with regional distinctions for both hemispheres would improve BB emission accuracy in Africa.
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spelling doaj-art-d405195c6f2e40d6a2ea38f625e242db2025-08-20T03:14:16ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-04-0116444010.3390/atmos16040440Biomass Burning over Africa: How to Explain the Differences Observed Between the Different Emission Inventories?Toure E. N’Datchoh0Cathy Liousse1Laurent Roblou2A. Brigitte N’Dri3Laboratoire des Sciences de la Matière, de l’Environnement et de l’Energie Solaire (LASMES), UFR SSMT, University Félix, Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan 22 BP 582, Côte d’IvoireLaboratoire d’Aérologie, UMR 5560, Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, FranceLaboratoire d’Aérologie, UMR 5560, Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, FranceUnité de Formation Sciences de la Nature (UFR-SN), Laboratoire d’Ecologie et de Développement Durable (LEDD), Laboratoire de Botanique et Valorisation de la Diversité Végétale (LaBVDiv), Université Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan 02 BP 801, Côte d’IvoireBiomass burning (BB) results from complex interactions between ecosystems, humans, and climate, releasing large amounts of gases and particles. Accurate BB emission estimates are essential for air quality, climate studies, and impact assessments. Various existing bottom-up BB emission inventories show significant discrepancies, varying by factors of 2 to 4 due to uncertainties in burned areas (BAs), emission factors (EFs), and vegetation parameters such as biomass density (BD) and burning efficiency (BE). Here, we investigate the role of vegetation parameters in these discrepancies in Africa. Two BB emission inventories, AMMABB-like (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis Biomass Burning) and GFED-like (Global Fire Emission Database) were developed for Organic Carbon (OC) and Black Carbon (BC). Both inventories used identical fire products, vegetation maps, and EF but different BD and BE values. Results highlight substantial differences in BD and BE, with relative gaps ranging from 44% to 85.12%, explaining the observed differences between BB emission inventories. Key vegetation classes responsible for BB emissions were identified. Discrepancies of 2.4 to 3.9 times were observed between AMMABB-like and GFED4-like, with higher values in the Southern Hemisphere. Better BD and BE estimates with regional distinctions for both hemispheres would improve BB emission accuracy in Africa.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/4/440biomass burningemission inventoriesfuel parametersAfricaGFED-likeAMMABB-like
spellingShingle Toure E. N’Datchoh
Cathy Liousse
Laurent Roblou
A. Brigitte N’Dri
Biomass Burning over Africa: How to Explain the Differences Observed Between the Different Emission Inventories?
Atmosphere
biomass burning
emission inventories
fuel parameters
Africa
GFED-like
AMMABB-like
title Biomass Burning over Africa: How to Explain the Differences Observed Between the Different Emission Inventories?
title_full Biomass Burning over Africa: How to Explain the Differences Observed Between the Different Emission Inventories?
title_fullStr Biomass Burning over Africa: How to Explain the Differences Observed Between the Different Emission Inventories?
title_full_unstemmed Biomass Burning over Africa: How to Explain the Differences Observed Between the Different Emission Inventories?
title_short Biomass Burning over Africa: How to Explain the Differences Observed Between the Different Emission Inventories?
title_sort biomass burning over africa how to explain the differences observed between the different emission inventories
topic biomass burning
emission inventories
fuel parameters
Africa
GFED-like
AMMABB-like
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/4/440
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AT cathyliousse biomassburningoverafricahowtoexplainthedifferencesobservedbetweenthedifferentemissioninventories
AT laurentroblou biomassburningoverafricahowtoexplainthedifferencesobservedbetweenthedifferentemissioninventories
AT abrigittendri biomassburningoverafricahowtoexplainthedifferencesobservedbetweenthedifferentemissioninventories