Extreme wildfires and disasters around the world

Ribeiro, Luís Mário; Viegas, Domingos X.; Almeida, Miguel; McGee, Tara K.; Pereira, Mário; Parente, Joana; Xanthopoulos, Gavriil; Leone, Vittorio; Delogu, Giuseppe; Hardin, Holy

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-815721-3.00002-3

Cited by 28 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…It is now well established that OA can exhibit amorphous phase states (Mikhailov et al, 2009;Virtanen et al, 2010;Koop et al, 2011;Reid et al, 2018;Renbaum-Wolff et al, 2013;Kidd et al, 2014). Depending on the viscosity and microstructure, the amorphous phases can be classified as glasses, rubbers, gels, or ultra-viscous liquids (Mikhailov et al, 2009;Riemer et al, 2019). The glass transition temperature, T g , is a characteristic parameter to describe the viscosity of a liquid on the order of 10 12 Pa s (Koop et al, 2011;Angell, 1995;Zobrist et al, 2011;Dette and Koop, 2015;Zhang et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O3, NO3, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

Forrester

Knopf

2020

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. Typical tropospheric temperatures render possible phase states of amorphous organic aerosol (OA) particles of solid, semisolid, and liquid. This will affect the multiphase oxidation kinetics involving the organic condensed-phase and gaseous oxidants and radicals. To quantify this effect, we determined the reactive uptake coefficients (γ) of O3, NO3, and OH by substrate films composed of single and binary OA surrogate species under dry conditions for temperatures from 213 to 313 K. A temperature-controlled coated-wall flow reactor coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer was applied to determine γ with consideration of gas diffusion transport limitation and gas flow entrance effects, which can impact heterogeneous reaction kinetics. The phase state of the organic substrates was probed via the poke-flow technique, allowing the estimation of the substrates' glass transition temperatures. γ values for O3 and OH uptake to a canola oil substrate, NO3 uptake to a levoglucosan and a levoglucosan / xylitol substrate, and OH uptake to a glucose and glucose / 1,2,6-hexanetriol substrate have been determined as a function of temperature. We observed the greatest changes in γ with temperature for substrates that experienced the largest changes in viscosity as a result of a solid-to-liquid phase transition. Organic substrates that maintain a semisolid or solid phase state and as such a relatively higher viscosity do not display large variations in heterogeneous reactivity. From 213 to 293 K, γ values of O3 with canola oil, of NO3 with a levoglucosan / xylitol mixture, and of OH with a glucose / 1,2,6-hexanetriol mixture and canola oil, increase by about a factor of 34, 3, 2, and 5, respectively, due to a solid-to-liquid phase transition of the substrate. These results demonstrate that the surface and bulk lifetime of the OA surrogate species can significantly increase due to the slowed heterogeneous kinetics when OA species are solid or highly viscous in the middle and upper troposphere. This experimental study will further our understanding of the chemical evolution of OA particles with subsequent important consequences for source apportionment, air quality, and climate.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O3, NO3, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

Forrester

Knopf

2020

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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“…Although the damage caused by the fire on the structures was scattered by the entire fire area, there was a clear concentration on the central area of the western part of the fire, between the Municipalities of Castanheira de Pera and Pedrogão Grande. In this area, different phenomena of extreme fire behavior were observed, which also resulted in the death of 65 civilians and 1 firefighter [1,73]. The impact of the fire on the local population could eventually be measured by this number of fatalities [73] but also by the type of structures that were burned [74].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this area, different phenomena of extreme fire behavior were observed, which also resulted in the death of 65 civilians and 1 firefighter [1,73]. The impact of the fire on the local population could eventually be measured by this number of fatalities [73] but also by the type of structures that were burned [74]. More than 85% of the damaged or destroyed structures are of an advanced age and the largest group, almost 40%, were used as support to different occupational activities (like agriculture), or as storage near the residential homes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact on Structures of the Pedrógão Grande Fire Complex in June 2017 (Portugal)

Ribeiro

Rodrigues

Lucas

et al. 2020

Fire

Self Cite

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On 17 June 2017, one of the most dramatic and destructive wildfires in Portugal’s History started, formed by a complex of at least five wildfires that merged together burning more than 45,000 hectares. In its aftermath, 66 persons lost their lives, most of them trying to run away from the fire, more than 250 were injured, and over 1000 structures (including 263 residential homes) were damaged or destroyed, with direct losses estimated at around 200 million euros. Shortly after the fire was extinguished, and as part of a larger analysis, the authors performed exhaustive field work to assess the fire impact on all manmade structures in the area of the Pedrógão Grande fire. A specific geodatabase was built, accounting for an extensive set of parameters aimed at characterizing: (i) The structure, (ii) the surroundings of the structure, and (iii) the arrival and impact of the fire. A total of 1043 structures were considered for the analysis, mostly support structures, like sheds or storage (38.6%), but also around 25% of dwellings (13.3% primary and 11.9% secondary). Regarding the ignitions, more than 60% of the structures were ignited due to the deposition of firebrands in different weak points. In addition, more than 60% of these ignitions occurred on the roofs, mainly because of the vulnerability associated with the structures and materials supporting them. Despite these results, and from what we observed on the structures that were not destroyed, we still consider that for the Portuguese reality houses are a good refuge, providing that they and their surroundings are managed and kept in good conditions.

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“…However, as soon as OA particles reach higher altitudes and lower temperatures by, e.g., pyro-convection (Andreae et al, 2004;Jost et al, 2004;Fromm and Servranckx, 2003), their atmospheric lifetime increases significantly. For example, aerosol particles originating from extreme wildfires like an Australia bushfire can circumnavigate the globe in weeks and can even reach the stratosphere existing for weeks or months (Ribeiro et al, 2020).…”

Section: Atmospheric Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O3, NO3, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

Li¹,

Forrester²,

Knopf³

2020

Preprint

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Abstract. Typical tropospheric temperatures render possible phase states of amorphous organic aerosol (OA) particles to solid, semi-solid and liquid. This will affect the multiphase oxidation kinetics involving the organic condensed phase and gaseous oxidants and radicals. To quantify this effect, we determined the reactive uptake coefficients (&#947;) of O3, NO3 and OH by substrate films composed of single and binary OA surrogate species under dry conditions for temperatures from 213 to 313&#8201;K. A temperature-controlled coated-wall flow reactor coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer was applied to determine &#947; with consideration of gas diffusion transport limitation and gas flow entrance effects, which can impact heterogeneous reaction kinetics. The phase state of the organic substrates was probed via the poke-flow technique, allowing the estimation of the substrates&#8217; glass transition temperatures. &#947; values for O3 and OH uptake to a canola oil substrate, NO3 uptake to a levoglucosan and a levoglucosan/xylitol substrate, and OH uptake to a glucose and glucose/1,2,6-hexanetriol substrate have been determined as a function of temperature. We observed the greatest changes in &#947; with temperature for substrates that experienced the largest changes in viscosity as a result of a solid-to-liquid phase transition. Organic substrates that maintain a semi-solid or solid phase state and as such a relatively higher viscosity, do not display large variations in heterogeneous reactivity. From 213&#8201;K to 293&#8201;K, &#947; values of O3 with canola oil, of NO3 with a levoglucosan/xylitol mixture, and of OH with a glucose/1,2,6-hexanetriol mixture and canola oil, increase by about a factor of 34, 3, 2 and 5, respectively, due to a solid-to-liquid phase transition of the substrate. These results demonstrate that the surface and bulk lifetime of the OA surrogate species can significantly increase due to the slowed heterogeneous kinetics when OA species are solid or highly viscous in the middle and upper troposphere. This experimental study will further our understanding of the chemical evolution of OA particles with subsequent important consequences for source apportionment, air quality, and climate.

show abstract

Extreme wildfires and disasters around the world

Cited by 28 publications

References 10 publications

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O<sub>3</sub>, NO<sub>3</sub>, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O<sub>3</sub>, NO<sub>3</sub>, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

The Impact on Structures of the Pedrógão Grande Fire Complex in June 2017 (Portugal)

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O<sub>3</sub>, NO<sub>3</sub>, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

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Extreme wildfires and disasters around the world

Cited by 28 publications

References 10 publications

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

The Impact on Structures of the Pedrógão Grande Fire Complex in June 2017 (Portugal)

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

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About

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O<sub>3</sub>, NO<sub>3</sub>, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O<sub>3</sub>, NO<sub>3</sub>, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures

Heterogeneous oxidation of amorphous organic aerosol surrogates by O<sub>3</sub>, NO<sub>3</sub>, and OH at typical tropospheric temperatures