Estimates of black carbon emissions from global biomass burning for the period 1997–2023

Abstract

Estimating black carbon (BC) emissions from biomass burning is crucial for accurately assessing the climate impact of this pollutant. In this study, we have estimated BC emissions from biomass burning in different geographic regions worldwide at a resolution of 0.25° × 0.25° from 1997 to 2023. These findings are crucial for accurately modeling the impact of BC on global climatic forcing. Over the past 27 years, the emissions of BC from global biomass burning activities have remained stable. The high BC emissions between 2003 and 2008 were associated with increased precipitation. The Southern Hemisphere South America (SHSA) and Southern Hemisphere Africa (SHAF) regions have emerged as the primary contributors, accounting for approximately 40% of total BC emissions originating from global biomass burning sources and high BC emissions in the southern hemisphere's spring. This study also reveals that BC emissions in the SHAF region during 1997–2023 exhibit a granger causal relationship with Antarctic sea ice loss at a 2-year lag, but the impact intensity demonstrates significant temporal heterogeneity. This study enhances our understanding of temporal and spatial variations in global BC release caused by biomass burning while providing fundamental data for international departments responsible for managing such activities.