AAAR 36th Annual Conference October 16 - October 20, 2017 Raleigh Convention Center Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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Development of a Unified Information System for Prescribed Fire and Air Quality in the Southeastern U.S.
SADIA AFRIN, Fernando Garcia-Menendez, North Carolina State University
Abstract Number: 705 Working Group: Carbonaceous Aerosols in the Atmosphere
Abstract Prescribed fire is one of the most important land management approaches used to reduce wildfire risk and restore ecosystems. However, smoke produced from prescribed burns can contribute to air quality concerns by increasing emissions of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) and precursors of ozone and secondary PM2.5. Prescribed burning is commonly practiced in the Southeastern U.S., where it represents one of the most significant sources of carbonaceous aerosols. Fire and emissions data for prescribed burning in the region are available from different satellite-based products and burn records from government agencies. However, satellite-derived estimates may underestimate emissions and often not detect the low-intensity fires, making them an unreliable data source. In addition, there is no central bottom-up inventory of prescribed fire, as burn records vary widely across different states. There are major differences in data attributes and collection systems from state to state. For instance, burn permit records in Florida and Georgia are organized in structured databases, whereas digital burn records for North Carolina are incomplete. In contrast, North Carolina fire records contain defined spatial locations, while Georgia data does not include detailed geo-coordinates. In this study, we develop an integrated information system for prescribed fire data in the Southeast by unifying and systematizing available burn permit records. We further integrate relevant air quality and meteorological data with the burn records to develop a unified platform. Here we use the system to quantify statistical correlations between prescribed burning activity and observed high PM2.5 concentration at different monitoring stations of Florida. In addition, the effect of meteorology is incorporated into the analysis by considering it in moderator variables. Ultimately, the system will serve as a decision-making tool for fire, land, and air quality managers by providing a detailed overview of burning and smoke emissions patterns.