In Situ Tropical Peatland Fire Emission Factors and Their Variability, as Determined by Field Measurements in Peninsula Malaysia. Issue 1 (9th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, T. E. L.; Evers, S.; Yule, C. M.; Gan, J. Y.
• Is Part Of: Global biogeochemical cycles. Volume 32:Issue 1(2018:Jan.)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2018-01-09
• Subjects: tropical peat -- fire emissions -- emission factors -- peat -- peatland degradation -- greenhouse gases; Biogeochemical cycles -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 577.1405
• DOI: 10.1002/2017GB005709
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0886-6236

Abstract

Abstract: Fires in tropical peatlands account for >25% of estimated total greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation. Despite significant global and regional impacts, our understanding of specific gaseous fire emission factors (EFs) from tropical peat burning is limited to a handful of studies. Furthermore, there is substantial variability in EFs between sampled fires and/or studies. For example, methane EFs vary by 91% between studies. Here we present new fire EFs for the tropical peatland ecosystem; the first EFs measured for Malaysian peatlands, and only the second comprehensive study of EFs in this crucial environment. During August 2015 (under El Niño conditions) and July 2016, we embarked on field campaigns to measure gaseous emissions at multiple peatland fires burning on deforested land in Southeast Pahang (2015) and oil palm plantations in North Selangor (2016), Peninsula Malaysia. Gaseous emissions were measured using open‐path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The IR spectra were used to retrieve mole fractions of 12 different gases present within the smoke (including carbon dioxide and methane), and these measurements used to calculate EFs. Peat samples were taken at each burn site for physicochemical analysis and to explore possible relationships between specific physicochemical properties and fire EFs. Here we present the first evidence to indicate that substrate bulk density affects methane fire EFs reported here. This novel explanation of interplume, within‐biome variability, should be considered by those undertaking greenhouse gas accounting and haze forecasting in this region and is of importance to peatland management, particularly with respect to artificial compaction. Key Points: From measurements at 10 peat fires in SE Pahang and N Selangor, we present the first fire emission factors for Malaysian peatlands We find substantial interplume fire emission factor variability for key greenhouse gases (e.g., methane) and reactive gases (e.g., ammonia) We present the first discussion of relationships between peat bulk density and methane fire emission factors