Forest burning emission

Many studies have shown that in North Europe major biomass burning emissions are mostly linked with wood smoke from fireplaces and stoves, whereas in Southern Europe wildfires can be the most important biomass combustion source. The Mediterranean region is frequently under the influence of this phenomenon, especially during dry periods. Although wildfires can be a major contributor of particulate matter into the atmosphere, forest fire emissions are poorly quantified in the literature, due to the difficulties induced in estimating their temporal and spatial distribution. 

Forest systems also act as sources of CO2 when controlled or uncontrolled burning and decay of litter occur. In addition, release of ethylene occurs during the flowering of various species. One additional form of emission to the atmosphere is the release of pollen grains. Pollen is essential to the reproductive cycle of most forest systems but becomes a human health hazard for individuals susceptible to hay fever. The contribution of sulfur from forests in the form of dimethyl sulfide is considered to be about 10-25% of the total amount released by soils and vegetation (12). 

Acid deposition occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions are transformed in the atmosphere and return to the earth in rain, fog or snow. Approximately 20 million tons of SOj are emitted annually in the United States, mostly from the burning of fossil fuels by electric utilities. Acid rain damages lakes, harms forests and buildings, contributes to reduced visibility, and is suspected of damaging health. 

Tropical forests and savannas are the primary source of C emissions that originate from biomass burning (73, 75). However, temperate forests are also sources of atmospheric carbon. Harmon et al. (77) reported that conversion of primary temperate forests to younger, second-growth forests lead to increases in atmospheric CO2 levels, due to losses in long-term carbon storage within these forests. They ascertained that timber exploitation of 5 million hectares of primaiy forests in the Pacific Northwest of North America during the past century has resulted in the addition of 1,500 Tg of C to the atmosphere. 

Sulfur dioxide is produced by both natural and anthropogenic sources. The most important of the natural sources are volcanic eruptions, which account for about 40 percent of all natural emissions of the gas. Since volcanic eruptions are episodic events, the amount of sulfur dioxide attributable to this source in any one year varies widely. Other natural sources of the gas are forest fires and other natural burns, biological decay, and certain metabolic processes carried out by living organisms, especially marine plankton and bacteria. Natural sources release about 27.5 million short tons (25 million metric tons) of sulfur dioxide per year. 

Industrial burning of fossil fuels in power plants and factories is the largest source of human-created atmospheric carbon. Emissions from automobiles—from simply driving cars—are another major, but much smaller, source. The burning of rain forests in areas around the equator is another major source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (This burning is mostly done to clear land for agriculture.) Altogether, these carbon sources are cause for present and future concerns. 

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