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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): E. Garcia-Hurtado; J. Pey; Esther Borrás; P. Sanchez; T. Vera; A. Carratala; A. Alastuey; X. Querol; V. R. Vallejo
Publication Date: June 2014

Wildfires produce a significant release of gases and particles affecting climate and air quality. In the Mediterranean region, shrublands significantly contribute to burned areas and may show specific emission profiles. Our objective was to depict and quantify the primary-derived aerosols and precursors of secondary particulate species released during shrubland experimental fires, in which fire-line intensity values were equivalent to those of moderate shrubland wildfires, by using a number of different methodologies for the characterization of organic and inorganic compounds in both gas-phase and particulate-phase. Emissions of PM mass, particle number concentrations and organic and inorganic PMx components during flaming and smouldering phases were characterized in a field shrubland fire experiment. Our results revealed a clear prevalence of K+ and SO(4(2-)) as inorganic ions released during the flaming-smouldering processes, accounting for 68-80% of the inorganic soluble fraction. During the residual-smouldering phases, in addition to K+ and SO(4(2-)), Ca2+ was found in significant amounts probably due the predominance of re-suspension processes (ashes and soil dust) over other emission sources during this stage. Concerning organic markers, the chromatograms were dominated by phenols, n-alkanals and n-alkanones, as well as by alcohol biomarkers in all the PMx fractions investigated. Levoglucosan was the most abundant degradation compound with maximum emission factors between 182 and 261 mg kg-1 in PM2.5 and PM10 respectively. However, levoglucosan was also observed in significant amounts in the gas-phase. The most representative organic volatile constituents in the smoke samples were alcohols, carbonyls, acids, monocyclic and bicyclic arenes, isoprenoids and alkanes compounds. The emission factors obtained in this study may contribute to the validation and improvement of national and international emission inventories of this intricate and diffuse emission source. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation: Garcia-Hurtado, E., J. Pey, E. Borras, P. Sanchez, T. Vera, A. Carratala, A. Alastuey, X. Querol, and V. R. Vallejo. 2014. Atmospheric PM and volatile organic compounds released from Mediterranean shrubland wildfires. Atmospheric Environment, v. 89, p. 85-92.

Cataloging Information

Regions:
Keywords:
  • aerosols
  • air quality
  • biomass burning
  • biomass burning
  • Europe
  • experimental fires
  • fire management
  • forest management
  • hydrocarbons
  • Mediterranean habitats
  • Mediterranean shrubland
  • organic compounds
  • particulates
  • shrublands
  • Spain
  • trace elements
  • VOCs
  • water soluble ions
  • wildfires
Tall Timbers Record Number: 30132Location Status: Not in fileCall Number: AvailableAbstract Status: Okay, Fair use, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 52900

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.