Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
ACP
Articles | Volume 23, issue 17
Articles | Volume 23, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9685-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-9685-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 23, issue 17
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
01 Sep 2023
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 01 Sep 2023

Atmospheric CO2 inversion reveals the Amazon as a minor carbon source caused by fire emissions, with forest uptake offsetting about half of these emissions

Luana S. Basso, Chris Wilson, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Graciela Tejada, Henrique L. G. Cassol, Egídio Arai, Mathew Williams, T. Luke Smallman, Wouter Peters, Stijn Naus, John B. Miller, and Manuel Gloor

Data sets

Posterior Amazon monthly mean surface carbon flux between 2010 and 2018 estimated using the INVICAT 4D-Var inverse model L. S. Basso, C. Wilson, M. P. Chipperfield, and M. Gloor https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.960593

CO2 Vertical Profiles on Four Sites over Amazon from 2010 to 2018 L. V. Gatti, C. C. S. Correa, L. G. Domingues, J. B. Miller, M. Gloor, A. Martinewski, L. S. Basso, R. Santana, S. P. Crispim, L. Marani, and R. L. Neves https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.926834

Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions (1751-2014) (V. 2017) T. Boden, G. Marland, and R. J. Andres https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/00001_V2017

Manaus aircraft profile data for the period 2017-2020 J. B. Miller, G. A. Martins, R. A. F. de Souza, and K. N. Schuldt https://doi.org/10.25925/20210519

Global Fire Emissions Database, Version 4.1 (GFEDv4) J. T. Randerson, G. R. van der Werf, L. Giglio, G. J. Collatz, P. S.​​​​​​​ and Kasibhatla https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1293

ERA5 monthly averaged data on single levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach, B. Bell, P. Berrisford, G. Biavati, A. Horányi, J. Muñoz Sabater, J. Nicolas, C. Peubey, R. Radu, I. Rozum, D. Schepers, A. Simmons, C. Soci, D. Dee, and J.-N. Thépaut https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.f17050d7

Mole fractions of CO, CO2, CH4 (version 39.21.1178) J. Lavric and D. Walter https://www.attodata.org/ddm/data/Showdata/39

Mole fractions of CO, CO2, CH4 (version 64.9.1179) J. Lavric and D. Walter https://www.attodata.org/ddm/data/Showdata/64

Mole fractions of CO, CO2, CH4 (version 65.7.1180) J. Lavric and D. Walter https://www.attodata.org/ddm/data/Showdata/65

Mole fractions of CO, CO2, CH4 (version 66.7.1181) J. Lavric and D. Walter https://www.attodata.org/ddm/data/Showdata/66

Mole fractions of CO, CO2, CH4 (version 67.15.1182) J. Lavric and D. Walter https://www.attodata.org/ddm/data/Showdata/67

Mole fractions of CO, CO2, CH4 (version 68.7.1183) J. Lavric and D. Walter https://www.attodata.org/ddm/data/Showdata/68

Mole fractions of CO, CO2, CH4 (version 69.8.1184) J. Lavric and D. Walter https://www.attodata.org/ddm/data/Showdata/69

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Dry Air Mole Fractions from the NOAA GML Carbon Cycle Cooperative Global Air Sampling Network, 1968-2021, Version: 2022-11-21 X. Lan, E. J. Dlugokencky, J. W. Mund, A. M. Crotwell, M. J. Crotwell, E. Moglia, M. Madronich, D. Neff, and K. W. Thoning https://doi.org/10.15138/wkgj-f215

Energy Balanced and Filled (EBAF) data product Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) https://ceres-tool.larc.nasa.gov/ord-tool/jsp/EBAF42Selection.jsp

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Executive editor
The Amazon's role in the tropical and global carbon cycle is highly significant. Usually considered as the "lung of the planet", it is mandatory to monitor if this role is kept, or if the large rainforest even turns into a source of carbon dioxide. The study by Basso et al. finds that during the analysed years, from 2010 to 2018, the Amazon is a small net source of carbon to the atmosphere. They find that fire is the primary driver of the Amazonian source, while drought years intensify the carbon emissions. The study also examined the contributions of different regions to the Amazonian carbon budget and found that emissions in the eastern Amazon were greater than those in the western region, primarily due to fires. These findings are of high relevance - and concern - to the larger geosciences community and indicate how important it is to stop slash-and-burn in the large rainforests.
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Short summary
The Amazon’s carbon balance may have changed due to forest degradation, deforestation and warmer climate. We used an atmospheric model and atmospheric CO2 observations to quantify Amazonian carbon emissions (2010–2018). The region was a small carbon source to the atmosphere, mostly due to fire emissions. Forest uptake compensated for ~ 50 % of the fire emissions, meaning that the remaining forest is still a small carbon sink. We found no clear evidence of weakening carbon uptake over the period.
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