SAFARI-2000 characterization of fuels, fire behavior, combustion completeness, and emissions from experimental burns in infertile grass savannas in western Zambia

Fires in African savannas produce emissions contributing to changes in global biogeochemical processes. In the Southern African Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI-2000), fuels characteristics were measured before and after experimental burns in two different western Zambian grassland types (dambo a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of arid environments 2003-06, Vol.54 (2), p.381-394
Main Authors: Hély, C, Alleaume, S, Swap, R.J, Shugart &, H.H, Justice, C.O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biomass
combustion
emissions
energy use and consumption
Environmental Sciences
fire behavior
fire intensity
flame length
fuel loading
fuels (fire ecology)
Global Changes
grasses
grasslands
Kalahari
land use
methane
moisture content
rate of spread
savannas
water content
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Summary:Fires in African savannas produce emissions contributing to changes in global biogeochemical processes. In the Southern African Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI-2000), fuels characteristics were measured before and after experimental burns in two different western Zambian grassland types (dambo and flood plain) situated on Kalahari Sands. The two land use types did not differ in terms of fuel characteristics, fire behavior or combustion completeness. As a consequence of a significantly wet year, fuel loads and moisture content were higher than those found during SAFARI-92. Use of moisture content and fire behavior component could increase the emission estimation through the fuel consumption calculation. Ranges of estimated emissions for CH 4 and NMHC were lower than previously stated.
ISSN:0140-1963
1095-922X
DOI:10.1006/jare.2002.1097