Spatio-temporal variations of burned areas and carbon emissions from vegetation fires in Myanmar and Southeast Asia derived from GFED data

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Author list: Nway Ei Aung;Nway Ei Aung;Sebastien Bonnet;Sebastien Bonnet;Savitri Garivait;Savitri Garivait

Publication year: 2019

Journal: Journal of Sustainable Energy and Environment (1906-4918)

Volume number: 10

Issue number: 4

Start page: 107

End page: 113

ISSN: 1906-4918

URL: http://www.jseejournal.com/journal.php?id=44

Abstract

Fire is an important disturbance factor in terrestrial ecosystems of the world including Southeast Asia (SEA). Fires contribute emissions of carbon and other trace gases impacting air quality and human health. In this study, the temporal variations in vegetation fires based on burned areas and related carbon emissions in SEA were studied with a particular focus on Myanmar based on data retrieved from the Global Fire Emission Database (GFED) over the period 2000-2015. The potential influence of climatic conditions on vegetation fires, in particular El Nino and La Nina years were also investigated. It was found that burned areas and carbon emissions relate to crop land, savanna, peat and forest, and vary significantly among SEA countries. The fire season spreads mostly from January to May each year with a peak usually observed in March and April. The largest emissions of carbon in SEA are from Indonesia due to its extensive peat land cover and burning, particularly during El Nino years. However, excluding peat land related carbon emissions, Myanmar was found to be the largest contributor to carbon emissions mostly from forest and savanna fires. In Myanmar, although some correlation was observed between normal precipitation and monthly variations in BAs, there was no evidence of a strong correlation between yearly variations in burned areas and climate conditions related to El Nino and La Nina years. Although further investigations should be performed in regard of the above investigations, these initial results may highlight the potential influence of anthropogenic activities on vegetation fires.

Keywords

burned areas, Global Fire Emission Database, Oceanic Ni๑o Index