1 REMOTE SENSING AND GIS METHODS FOR GLOBAL SPATIO-TEMPORAL MODELING OF BIOMASS BURNING EMISSIONS: ASSESSMENT IN THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. ACCEPTED in “Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres - 2004” Alicia Palacios-Orueta 1 , Alexander Parra 2 , Emilio Chuvieco 2 , and César Carmona 3 1 Departmento de Silvopascicultura. E.T.S.I.Montes. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Ciudad Universitaria S/N. Madrid 28040 Tel: (34) 913367080 / Fax: (34) 3365556 2 Department of Geography, University of Alcalá Colegios, 2 – 28801 Alcalá de Henares Tel: (34) 918854429 / Fax: (34) 918854439 2 Environment and Sustainability Institute - "Global Vegetation Monitoring", Joint Research Center TP. 440 Via Fermi,1 I-21020 ISPRA (VA) ITALY Tel: +39 0332 78 96 54 / Fax: +39 0332 78 90 73 Abstract A spatially explicit model for analysis of biomass burning emissions is presented. The model, based on Seiler and Crutzen’s, uses satellite images and GIS modeling tools to improve the estimation of biomass loads and burning efficiency. The model was assessed in the African continent using the Global Burning Area (GBA2000) maps derived from SPOT-Vegetation by the Joint Research Center. A total amount of 5711.78 Tg of CO 2 and 336.43 Tg of CO was estimated from the model. The areas south of the Equator were estimated to release 3579.22 Tg of CO 2 and 218.21Tg of CO, while 2132.56 Tg of CO 2 and 118.22 Tg of CO were estimated for the Northern Hemisphere. Most of these emissions were generated by two latitude strips: between 3.5 and 11º North, and between 5 and 13º South. Monthly variability shows a clear bi- modal temporal behavior, with two maxima in November-February in the Northern Band, and in June-September in the Southern. The effect of Biomass Loads distribution 1 Corresponding author e-mail: apalacios@montes.upm.es