Exceptionally active agricultural fire season in mid-eastern China in June 2012 and its impact on the atmospheric environment

Fire activity and its environmental effects in eastern China were studied using satellite and surface observations. First, seasonal and interannual variations of fire activity were investigated based on the fire occurrence data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer measurements during July 2003 to December 2012. Second, an extraordinarily active agricultural fire season in June 2012 was revealed in mid-eastern China (MEC, 32 degrees N-35 degrees N, 115 degrees E-120 degrees E), where fire pixel density was twice the decadal average and the smoke layer height was observed to be 4 similar to 5km. Third, significant effects of this fire season on the atmospheric environment were characterized using a combination of ground and satellite data. Crop fires enhanced aerosol optical depth (AOD), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) amounts near the source and in downwind regions by similar to 15-60%. A combination of observations and model simulations is required for better understanding effects of crop fires on atmospheric environment and climate.