Remote Sensing of Biomass Burning in the Tropics

Abstract

Biomass burning in the tropics, a large source of trace gases, has expanded drastically in the last decade due to increase in the controlled and uncontrolled deforestation in South America (Setzer et al. 1988; Malingreau and Tucker 1988), and due to an increase in the area of cultivated land with the expansion of population in Africa and South America (Seiler and Crutzen 1980; Houghton et al. 1987). In the burning process trace gases and particulates are emitted to the atmosphere, and the ability of the earth to fix CO2 is substantially reduced (17{\%} of the primary productivity occurs in the humid tropical forests --- Atjay et al. 1979; Mooney et al. 1987), and as a result has a strong contribution to the anticipated climate change (Houghton and Woodwell 1989).