Abstract

MARTINS, Vera et al. Forest Fires Impacts on Air Quality Over Portugal in the 2003-2005 Period. Silva Lus. [online]. 2009, vol.17, n.2, pp.219-239. ISSN 0870-6352.

The years of 2003 and 2005 were particularly critical concerning the forest fire activity in Portugal, which was responsible for the emission of several pollutants to the atmosphere, with dangerous effects on the air quality. In this sense, the main goal of this study is to assess the impact of forest fires on the air quality in Portugal, using two approaches. The first one is based on the statistical analysis of measured air quality data, burned area and number of forest fires, in 2003. This analysis identified significant statistical correlations, at district level, between the particulate matter daily concentrations and the burned area and the number of forest fires. The second approach implied the application of one air quality numerical modelling system along the period from June to September of 2003-2005.A baseline simulation (without forest fire emissions) and a simulation considering forest fire emissions were performed over Portugal. Modelling results were compared to measured values showing an important improvement when forest fire emissions were taken into account, which also points to the strong effect of wildfires on air quality.

Keywords : Emissions; statistical analysis; numerical modelling; particulate matter; ozone.

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