Published: October 10, 2006
Central American Fires Affect Weather, Climate Continentwide
Ongoing international research tracks cross-continental pollution, atmospherics
Pollutants expelled from widespread biomass fires in Central America can influence air quality, visibility and climate over vast stretches of North America, according to research announced October 10 by NASA.
Studying a two-month period of burning in 2003, the research team of government and university scientists found that smoke plumes degraded visibility and air quality in coastal regions along the Gulf of Mexico, and increased the concentration of airborne particulate matter in the nearby state of Texas, according to an October 10 press release.
Smoke particles and aerosols act to diffuse incoming sunlight, and black carbon aerosols can absorb solar radiation, potentially boosting the temperature. Evaporation, cloud formation and rainfall all can be influenced by these atmospheric changes.
A distinctive element of these findings - published in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres - is that the researchers used a newly developed computer model to simulate the effects the smoke would have on the broader atmosphere.
The researchers then confirmed their predictions with observations provided by NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra and Aqua Earth Observing System satellites.
Comparison between MODIS data on actual conditions and the computer model's predictions showed that the model accurately simulated how smoke, diminished sunlight and temperature would behave.
This work demonstrates a new ability to improve air quality and climate forecasts for the benefit of the global weather community.
"MODIS data allows us to capture the meteorological impacts of smoke and aerosols, especially important during the tropical dry season each spring when biomass burning peaks and pollutants are transported to the United States," said study co-author Sundar Christopher of the University of Alabama.
RELATED RESEARCH
The results announced by NASA October 10 are part of a growing body of international research and cooperation in atmospheric science and the study of the wide-ranging effects of pollution:
A bilateral air quality program between the United States and Mexico is improving air quality in a region along that international border, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in May.
An international research consortium funded by U.S. agencies is conducting a study to track pollution over the Indian Ocean.
NASA and research partners are conducting the Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment, which is tracking pollution flows on long-distance travel. The project has looked at pollution transfer from North America to Europe, from Mexico to other Western Hemisphere locations and from Asia to North America.
Source: U.S. Department of State
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