Publicações

This paper presents a compilation of the main results obtained by this research group in twenty years of field research on forest clearing fires in the Brazilian Amazon region. Experiments were conducted in Manaus (state of Amazonas) (2 experiments), Tomé-Açu (state of Pará) (1 experiment), and Alta Floresta (state of Mato Grosso) (8 experiments). The research congregated 6 Brazilian and 2 American research institutions. Results on the following main themes of the research are presented: – Biomass consumption and emission rates of CO2 under fire; – Emission factors of combustion gases produced in the burns; – Log smoldering; – Under-story fire propagation; – Charcoal formation; – Changes of composition of the water percolated through the soil; – Mercury emissions by fires. The paper also discusses the newly approved thematic project that will support research for the following 4 years. Experiments will be conducted in Cruzeiro do Sul and Rio Branco (state of Acre) and again in Alta Floresta.