Smoke from Burning Vegetation
Hobbs et al (1997) examine the effect on the global and regional
radiation balance of biomass burning in the Amazon River basin. Airborne
measurements in smoke from biomass fires were used to determine optical
parameters for assessing increased reflection of visible radiation. They
conclude that global-mean direct radiative forcing from smoke emitted from
world-wide biomass burning contributes a maximum of -0.3 Watts per square
meter (i.e., a maximum cooling of 0.3 Wm-2). By contrast, radiative
forcing due to anthropogenically emitted greenhouse gases is presently
accepted to be +2.45 Wm-2 (warming) and the incoming solar radiation at the
top of the atmosphere is 342 Wm-2. Because the forcing is locally large,
it might indirectly affect global climate through regional changes in
circulation.
Hobbs, P. V., J. S. Reid, R. A. Kotchenruther, R. J. Ferek, and R. Weiss,
1997: Direct Radiative Forcing by Smoke from Biomass Burning. Science,
275, 1776-1778.