DOMESTIC BIOMASS COMBUSTION AND ASSOCIATED ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS IN WEST-AFRICA

Biofuel is the main source of energy for cooking and heating in Africa . In order to estimate the consumption of this resource at a regional level, a database with a spatial resolution of 1 degrees latitude by 1 degrees longitude of the distribution of the amounts of fuel wood and charcoal annually burned in West Africa has been derived. Chemical em ission factors for fuel wood, for charcoal burning, and for charcoal f abrication measured during two field experiments are then used in conj unction with this database to produce a second 1 degrees latitude by 1 degrees longitude database of the emissions due to domestic fires for the region. A comparison of these emissions from domestic fires with those of savanna fires, the dominant form of biomass burning in tropic al Africa, shows that the relative contribution of the wood fuel (i.e. fuel wood and charcoal) combustion is important for CH4 (46%), CO (42 %), and nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC) (44%), less so for CO2.(32%). T his source of biomass burning has a different spatial and temporal dis tribution than that of savanna fires and represents an atmospheric bac kground noise throughout the year, whereas the savanna fires occur dur ing a limited season.