Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Forest Biomass Burning in India

Abstract

Biomass burning is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions, most importantly carbon dioxide (CO₂). In this study, we used burnt area estimates derived from the L3JRC product to estimate the CO₂ emissions from forests. The results suggested that an average of 2,414 sq.kms. is burnt annually. Of the different years, 2000-2001 recorded the greatest area burnt followed by 2003-2004, with the least during 2002-2003. Spatial patterns in the burnt area maps clearly revealed the greatest burnt areas were located in the Himalayan region. Over a period of seven years, closed needleleaf evergreen forest recorded the largest burnt areas (1087 sq.kms.) of the different forest types, followed by closed broadleaf deciduous forests (937 sq.kms.) and others. The total CO₂ emissions averaged across seven years were ~6.34 CO₂ Tg/yr from biomass burning of forests. Spatial variation in CO₂ emissions ranged from 2.37 to 3.85Gg CO₂/m² with a mean of 3.10 Gg CO₂/m².