Df. Hurst et al., MEASUREMENTS OF TRACE GASES EMITTED BY AUSTRALIAN SAVANNA FIRES DURING THE 1990 DRY SEASON, Journal of atmospheric chemistry, 18(1), 1994, pp. 33-56
During 18-23 July 1990, 31 smoke samples were collected from an aircra
ft flying at low altitudes through the plumes of tropical savanna fire
s in the Northern Territory, Australia. The excess (above background)
mixing ratios of 17 different trace gases including CO2, CO, CH4, seve
ral nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC), CH3CHO, NO(x) (= NO + NO2), NH3, N
2O, HCN and total unspeciated NMHC and sulphur were measured. Emission
ratios relative to excess CO2 and CO, and emission factors relative t
o the fuel carbon, nitrogen or sulphur content are determined for each
measured species. The emission ratios and factors determined here for
carbon-based gases, NO(x), and N2O are in good agreement with those r
eported from other biomass burning studies. The ammonia data represent
the first such measurements from savanna fires, and indicate that NH,
emissions are more than half the strength of NO(x) emissions. The emi
ssions of NO(x), NH3, N2O and HCN together represent only 27% of the v
olatilised fuel N, and are primarily NO(x) (16%) and NH, (9%). Similar
ly, only 56% of the volatilised fuel S is accounted for by our measure
ments of total unspeciated sulphur.