Biomass burning and particulate matter concentration in the Amazonian area of the State of Mato Grosso - Brazil

• Grant number: 11/20247-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: April 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Andrea Cavicchioli
• Grantee: Andrea Cavicchioli
• Host Investigator: Vincent Dubreuil
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université Rennes 2, Saint Brieuc, France

Abstract

The acute process of land transformation in the amazonic area of the State of Mato Grosso (Brazil), mainly resulting from the expansion of agribusiness which has been taking place over the last two decades at least, contributes significantly the biomass burning. The latter, in turn, have been related to alterations in the atmospheric composition and, more notably, to increases in particulate matter concentration, thus determining impact potentials in air quality and radiative balance. The present proposition is envisaged in the framework of a wider project which aims to study the concentration and composition of particulate matter in that area, to establish correlations with climatic factors and land use patterns and to assess trends over time in association with public politics implemented in the territory. In particular, the visit to COSTEL laboratory of Université Rennes-2 (France) from February to April 2012 will enable the use of remote sensing and image interpretation tools and techniques to create solid basis for a preliminary assessment of spatial and temporal evolution of biomass burning in Mato Grosso of the concentration of fine mode particulate matter (PM2.5) according to the outcome of CPTEC-INPE models, hence establishing the onset of the subsequent phases of this study. (AU)