Enhanced net CO2 exchange of a semi-deciduous forest in the southern
Amazon due to diffuse radiation from biomass burning
Abstract
Atmospheric processes and climate are closely linked to the carbon cycle
in the Amazon region as a consequence of the strong biosphere-atmosphere
coupling. The radiative effects of aerosols and clouds are still unknown
for a wide variety of species and types of vegetation present in
Amazonian biomes. This study examines the effects of atmospheric
aerosols on solar radiation and their effects on Net Ecosystem Exchange
(NEE) in an area of semideciduous tropical forest in the North of Mato
Grosso State. Our results show a reduction of assimilation in the NEE
with a considerable loss with the decrease of incident solar radiation
of 40% and relative irradiance between 1.10-0.67. An average increase
of 35-70% in net CO2 assimilation was observed for pollution levels
(Aerosol Optical Depth) above 1.25. The increase of 35-70% in the NEE
was attributed to the increase of up to 60% in the diffuse fraction of
Photosynthetically Active Radiation, concerning its direct fraction.
These results were mainly attributable to the Biomass Burning Organic
Aerosols from fires over the area studied. Important influences on
temperature and relative humidity of air, induced by the interaction
between solar radiation and high aerosol load in the observation area,
were also observed; an average cooling of 3.0 °C and 10%, respectively.
Given the long-distance transport of aerosols emitted by burning
biomass, significant changes in CO2 flux can be occurring over large
areas of the Amazon, with important effects on the potential for CO2
absorption on ecosystems of semideciduous forests distributed in the
region.