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| Author(s): |
Luana Santamaria Basso
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN/BT) |
| Defense date: | 2014-12-05 |
| Examining board members: |
Luciana Vanni Gatti;
Plinio Carlos Alvala;
Afonso Rodrigues de Aquino;
Janaína Braga do Carmo;
Tomas Ferreira Domingues
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| Advisor: | Luciana Vanni Gatti |
| Abstract | |
In the current scenario of climate change, Methane (CH4) is the second main anthropogenic greenhouse gas. This work aimed to study the role of Amazon in the global CH4 emission, which is the largest rainforest in the world. In this study vertical profiles were performed using small aircraft, from 150 m from the surface to 4.4 km in four sites in the Amazon Basin, forming a large quadrant covering the entire basin. The sites were: near Santarem (SAN, 2.8°S, 54.9°W), Alta Floresta (ALF, 8.8°S, 56.7°W), Rio Branco (RBA, 9.3°S, 67.6°W) and Tabatinga (TAB, 5.9°S, 70.0°W). Were made four years (2010-2013) of continuous measures on a regional scale, every two weeks, with a total of 293 vertical profiles. Until now these measures are unique and represent a new approach in emissions on this scale. The CH4 fluxes were calculated in these four locations through the Column Integration Technique and annual fluxes were calculated using proportional average, considering the area of influence of each location. The years 2010 and 2012 were years of drought, while 2011 and 2013 were years with total precipitation higher than the average in the Amazon. In these four years of study only in 2011 showed a lower average temperature. The results showed that the Amazon was a source of CH4, with an annual emission of 25.4 Tg (4% - 5% of global emission), considering the Brazilian Amazon area (4,2 millions km2). Emissions in this region presented regional and annual variations, with more emissions during drought years. Emissions from biomass burning was not significant, while emissions from enteric fermentation was significant in the study areas. The results obtained highlight the importance of make studies with regional scale and long temporal series to clarify the behavior of the entire Brazilian Amazon area. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 11/17914-0 - Determination of Methane Emissions in the Amazon Basin |
| Grantee: | Luana Santamaria Basso |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |