Estimating vegetation fire emissions from Sardinian wildland fires (2005-2009)

Vegetation fire emissions (VFE) are recognized to be an important public health and environment issue. The estimates of VFE are affected by several errors and uncertainties, principally related to fuel status and characteristics, but also to fire behaviour. In addition, improvements of emission estimates are possible knowing the amount of fuel consumption both in the flaming and smoldering combustion period. In this context, the aim of this work is to develop a methodology for fire emission estimation in a Mediterranean area, with a focus on the evaluation of VFE in relation to different type of vegetation burned. The First Order Fire Effects Model (FOFEM) (Reinhardt et al. 1997) was selected for estimating combustion and emission processes due to the input needed and its physical model of heat transfer and burning rate. Particular attention was paid to develop and survey comprehensive and accurate data inputs. FOFEM input fuel load data, for several fuel types, were surveyed to represent those combusted. The data on area burned, fuel loadings, and emissions were assembled into a Geographical Information System (GIS) to improve manipulation and visualization of data. Results showed the crucial role of appropriate fuel and fire data and maps to attain reasonable simulations of fuel consumption and smoke emissions. FOFEM outputs and the derived smoke emission maps are useful for several applications including emissions inventories, air quality management plans, and emission source models coupled with dispersion models and decision support systems.