High-resolution inventory of mercury emissions from biomass burning in tropical continents during 2001-2017

Mercury emissions from biomass burning contribute significantly to the atmospheric mercury budget and the interannual variation of mercury concentrations in the troposphere. This study developed a highresolution (0.1 degrees x 0.1 degrees) monthly inventory of mercury emissions from biomass burning across five land types in the tropical continents (Central and South America, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia) during 2001-2017. The inventory estimates of mercury emissions from biomass burning are based on the newly released MCD64A1 Version 6 Burned Area data product, satellite and observational data of biomass density, and spatial and temporal variable combustion factors. Results from the inventory demonstrated that during 2001-2017, the average annualmercury emissions frombiomass burning in tropical continentswas 497Mg and ranged from289Mg to 681Mg. Forest fireswere the largest contributor, accounting for 61% (300Mg) of the total mercury emissions from biomass burning, followed by fires in woody savanna/shrubland (30%, 151 Mg), savanna/grassland (7%, 35 Mg), peatland (1%, 6 Mg), and cropland (1%, 5 Mg). However, these proportions varied between the continents; in theAmericas and Asia, the largest biomass burningemissions came fromforest fires, and in Africa the largest emissions were from fires woody savanna/shrubland. Between the three continents, Africa released 41% of the mercury emissions from biomass burning (202 Mg year(-1)), Asia released 31% (154 Mg year-1), and the Americas released 28% (141 Mg year-1). The total mercury emissions from biomass burning in these tropical continents exhibited strong interannual variations from 2001 to 2017, with peak emissions in March and August to September, and forest fires were the primary land type controlling the interannual variations. (c) 2018 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.