SPATIO-TEMPORAL ESTIMATION OF THE CARBON FLOW EMITTED BY BUSH FIRES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

Several greenhouse gases are seeing their concentration increased, but carbon dioxide (CO2) is by
far the most significant. Apart from the quantities emitted by industrial activities and its corollaries, bush fires
contribute remarkably to the increase of this gas in the atmosphere. Nowadays, the exact estimation of these CO2
emissions still remains problematic given the complexity of the measurement procedures.
This present article proposes the spatio-temporal estimation of the distributions of the carbon flux emitted by
bush fires in sub-Saharan Africa by analysis of two types of data (Special observation and modeling). The main
objective is to highlight the contribution of bushfires in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of CO2 emissions. The
method used is based on a comparative analysis of the distribution of fires and the carbon flux emitted for the
same area and during the same period (2001-2005) using two sets of data, namely: MODIS images for the
analysis of the distribution of active fires in the study area and the flux of carbon emitted from the outputs of the
ORCHIDEE model to estimate the quantity of CO2 emitted in these areas. The principle consists of producing
distribution maps of active fires and carbon fluxes for the same area and the same period in order to verify the
correlations between active fires and carbon fluxes emitted and to estimate the quantities emitted. The results
obtained made it possible to notice a spatio-temporal similarity in the distribution of fires and carbon flux. Even
if the temporal dynamics on a monthly scale show a small shift, the seasonal one is in perfect harmony between
fires and emitted fluxes. The simulations show that the quantities of CO2 emitted per season are between 5.10-9
and 2.5. 10-8 kg/m2
.s or approximately 7,884 tonnes/hectare/year. These results can be consolidated by other,
more in-depth work on fires