Abstract
Satellite remote sensing is used to study biomass burning in the Amazon and its effects on the atmosphere. Although the NOAA‐AVHRR sensor was not designed as a quantitative tool to observe atmospheric and surface radiative properties, it is used successfully to observe fires, smoke particles, and the microphysics of clouds that are affected by the smoke. Trace gases emitted in the process of biomass burning are not observed by existing satellite sensors. Therefore, in order to measure the rate of emission of trace gases, detailed relationships between the emission of trace gases and smoke particles were measured in field experiments in Brazil. The field studies provide first‐order estimates of the relationships needed to evaluate the satellite data, and are also used to test and validate the satellite measurements.
In this paper, satellite remote sensing of biomass burning in the Amazon is reviewed. Previous analysis of the NOAA‐AVHRR data for the emissions of trace gases and particles from fires in the Amazon is updated, using the results of subsequent field experiments: BASE‐A and BASE‐B, conducted in 1989 and 1990. The estimated emissions from the satellite data are larger than estimates based on land use. The effects of the smoke particles on atmospheric radiation and on cloud properties are summarized. Smoke is shown to affect cloud microphysics, but to darken the clouds rather than brighten them. Several field studies are planned in order to advance the understanding of the effect of biomass burning on the atmosphere. These activities are discussed and preliminary results are presented.