WILDFIRE
The atmospheric footprint of US wildfires
Wildfire smoke is an increasingly significant source of particulate matter (PM) to the atmosphere. In 2020, wildfires accounted for as much as 25% of annual fine PM (≤2.5 µ diameter) across the U.S. and as much as 50% in some Western U.S. regions. Although seldom quantified, the fallout of wildfire ash by dry (particulate) and wet (precipitation) deposition can represent a critical pathway for delivery of biologically important nutrients to recipient landscapes. In this project, we are interested in better understanding the magnitude and composition of deposition in rain, as a result of wildfires, to downwind ecosystems. Ultimately, we aim to address how future deposition is likely to be modified with changes in smoke regimes.
Collaborators: Janice Brahney (Utat State University) Kathleen C. Weathers (Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies)