Emission Factors from Aerial and Ground Measurements of Field and Laboratory Forest Burns in the Southeastern U.S.: PM_2.5, Black and Brown Carbon, VOC, and PCDD/PCDF

Abstract

Aerial- and ground-sampled emissions from three prescribed forest burns in the southeastern U.S. were compared to emissions from laboratory open burn tests using biomass from the same locations. A comprehensive array of emissions, including PM_2.5, black carbon (BC), brown carbon (BrC), carbon dioxide (CO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-<i>p</i>-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were sampled using ground-based and aerostat-lofted platforms for determination of emission factors. The PM_2.5 emission factors ranged from 14 to 47 g/kg biomass, up to three times higher than previously published studies. The biomass type was the primary determinant of PM_2.5, rather than whether the emission sample was gathered from the laboratory or the field and from aerial- or ground-based sampling. The BC and BrC emission factors ranged from 1.2 to 2.1 g/kg biomass and 1.0 to 1.4 g/kg biomass, respectively. A decrease in BC and BrC emission factors with decreased combustion efficiency was found from both field and laboratory data. VOC emission factors increased with decreased combustion efficiency. No apparent differences in averaged emission factors were observed between the field and laboratory for BC, BrC, and VOCs. The average PCDD/PCDF emission factors ranged from 0.06 to 4.6 ng TEQ/kg biomass