GREENHOUSE GASES STUDY IN AMAZONIA

Author(s)

Monica Tais Siqueira D'Amelio

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN/BT)
• Defense date: 2006-04-18

Examining board members

Luciana Vanni Gatti; Afonso Rodrigues de Aquino; Humberto Ribeiro da Rocha

• Advisor: Luciana Vanni Gatti

Abstract

The Amazon plays an important role on the global carbon cycle, as changing as carbon storage, since Amazon Basin is the biggest area of tropical forest, around 50% of global. Natural’s process, deforestation, and use land are CO2 sources. The Amazon forest is a significant source of N2O by soil process, and CH4 by anaerobic process like flooded areas, rice cultures, and others sources. This project is part of the LBA project (Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazônia), and this project is “Vertical profiles of carbon dioxide and other trace gas species over the Amazon basin using small aircraft". Since December 2000 vertical profiles of CO2, CH4, CO, H2, N2O and SF6 have been measured above central Amazônia. The local sampling was over Tapajós National Forest, a primary forest in Para State, where had a CO2 flux tower and an east impact area with sources like animals, rice cultivation, biomass burning, etc, to compare the influence of an impact area and a preserved area in the profiles. The Reserva Biológica de Cuieiras, at Amazon State, is the other studied place, where there already exists a CO2 flux tower, and an east preserved area at this State, to comparer with the Cuieiras. The sampling has been carried out on vertical profile from 1000 ft up to 12000 ft using a semi-automated sampling package developed at GMD/NOAA and a small aircraft. The analysis uses the MAGICC system (Multiple Analysis of Gases Influence Climate Change) which is installed at the Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory (LQA) in IPEN (Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares). The results showed that all gases studied, except H2 gas, has been following the global trend. At the Pará State, for the studied years, the Amazonian Forest performed as small CO2 sink. To compare Wet and Dry Seasons, subtracted the Ascension concentration values in the period to remove the global influence. So that, in the 2004 and 2005 wet seasons and 2004 dry season comparison, it was observed 2 ppm CO2 concentration higher on Wet Seasons. At Amazon State, the Wet Season profiles had source behavior, presenting 10 ppm CO2 concentration higher under PBL (Planetary Boundary Layer). In both states concentrations were higher than Ascension Island concentration. CH4 concentration over Pará and Amazon States presented higher values than Ascension in 80 ppb and 25 ppb, respectively. Dry Season concentrations have been higher than Wet Season concentrations. N2O concentration in Para State was similar to Ascension concentration until 2003, when its concentration has been an enhancement, because of N fertilizer utilization at near area. N2O concentration was similar in the two studied States, presenting discreet source at Wet Season. The SF6 concentration presented the global trend, and it was a little beat higher over Amazon State, suggesting different air origin. The CO concentration was higher under PBL and presented values during Dry Season higher in 130 ppb and 150 ppb than Wet Season, for burning contribution. The highest average concentration was over Amazon State, which agrees with the different air origin hypothesis. H2 gas presented behavior similar to CO gas in the Dry Season. The Amazon State performed a small sink role during Wet Season and in Para State is higher during dry season performed like a source and during wet season like a sink. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 04/04148-3 - Study of greenhouse effect gases in Amazonia
• Grantee: Monica Tais Siqueira D'Amelio Felippe
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master