Seasonal Variability of Biomass Open Burning Activities in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region

摘要

The seasonal variability of biomass open burning activities in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) with focus on carbon monoxide (CO) and total particulate matter or aerosol (TPM) emissions was investigated in order to document the characteristics of this significant source of air pollutants in the region. This assessment was performed using remote sensing data on fire hotspots detected by ANDES in combination with ground observations and data on vegetation land-use of the GMS region. We prepared monthly gridded emissions maps, to identify vegetation types subject to open burning and the corresponding spatio- temporal distribution. The results obtained showed that the major types of vegetation subject to open burning in the GMS region are forests and paddy fields. We also found that vegetation fires mostly take place during the dry season with a peak occurring during January - April. The quantification and spatio-temporal distribution of emissions from forest fires and rice residue burning could serve as important information to support decision making on control strategies that should be formulated at the national level to reduce emissions from biomass open burning and thereby to comply with the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze.