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The PhD student Valaire Séraphin Ouehoudja Yaro (Université Joseph KI-ZERBO) and colleagues published their results about greenhouse gas emissions from prescribed fires. Congratulations!

The study” Greenhouse gas emission from prescribed fires is influenced by vegetation types in West African Savannas“ [JH1] (DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-73753-6), published in Scientific Reports, has examined the influence of vegetation types on greenhouse gas emissions from prescribed fires in West African savannas. Conducted across 80 experimental plots, the research used a carbon mass balance approach to assess emissions and establish emission factors for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane. Findings revealed that grass and shrub savannas produce higher carbon emissions due to lower moisture content and abundant biomass, while tree savannas and woodlands, despite lower total emissions, exhibit higher emission factors because of their denser biomass. The study highlights the significant role of vegetation types and climate interactions in greenhouse gas assessments, providing a foundation for improved greenhouse gas inventories.

 

 

figures
Photo: GreenGaDe
Variability of pre-fire biomass fuel (a and e), biomass fuel burned (b and f), carbon emissions (c and g), and CO2 equivalent emitted (d and h) across climate zones and vegetation types (GS = grass savanna, SS = shrub savanna, TS = tree savanna, WL = woodland). The median and the mean are represented by a horizontal line and a dot in the boxplot, respectively.
figures
Photo: GreenGaDe
Variability of pre-fire biomass fuel (a and e), biomass fuel burned (b and f), carbon emissions (c and g), and CO2 equivalent emitted (d and h) across climate zones and vegetation types (GS = grass savanna, SS = shrub savanna, TS = tree savanna, WL = woodland). The median and the mean are represented by a horizontal line and a dot in the boxplot, respectively.
figures
Photo: GreenGaDe
Variability of emission factors of CO2 (a and d), CO (b and e), and CH4 (c and f) across climate zone and vegetation types (GS = grass savanna, SS = shrub savanna, TS = tree savanna, WL = woodland). The median and the mean are represented by a horizontal line and a dot in the boxplot, respectively.
figures
Photo: GreenGaDe
Variability of emission factors of CO2 (a and d), CO (b and e), and CH4 (c and f) across climate zone and vegetation types (GS = grass savanna, SS = shrub savanna, TS = tree savanna, WL = woodland). The median and the mean are represented by a horizontal line and a dot in the boxplot, respectively.