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Microbial Emissions affect Biodiversity and Ice Nucleation Potential in FASMEE Smoke Plumes
Citation:
Kobziar, L., D. Vuono, R. Moore, B. Christner, A. Watts, A. Kochanski, D. Betancourt, T. Dean, B. Gullett, AND J. Aurell. Microbial Emissions affect Biodiversity and Ice Nucleation Potential in FASMEE Smoke Plumes. Third International Smoke Science Symposium, NA, North Carolina, April 20 - 24, 2020.
Impact/Purpose:
Smoke from biomass burning is a major producer of aerosols from combustion of vegetation and soils. There has been a recent increase in research into the emissions (both chemical and PM) of wildland fire plumes, however, little is known about the abundance and composition of smoke’s biological content. Bioaerosols, or aerosols derived from biological sources, may be a significant component of the aerosol load vectored in wildland fire smoke. If bioaerosols are injected into the upper troposphere via high-intensity wildland fires and transported across continents, there may be consequences for the ecosystems they reach. This study represents a newly identified mechanism for microorganism emissions and transport with global implications for biodiversity. In addition, ice nucleation activity in smoke, predominantly associated with these bioaerosols, is 2- to 6-fold that of air without smoke, suggesting a potential role in pyrocumulonimbus cloud formation and weather. This discovery also implies that research on biomass smoke-related human health impacts should consider the living, potential disease-causing organisms that may be concentrated in smoke.
Description:
Smoke from biomass burning has been extensively researched to determine its chemical and physical properties, while the biological component of smoke has largely been overlooked. We conducted a series of studies across forest ecosystems, in a combustion laboratory, and during a recent high-intensity experimental crown fire as part of the Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE). Our research reveals that unique assemblages and high concentrations of microorganisms from soils, plant surfaces, and within both living and dead vegetation are aerosolized during both low- and high-intensity wildland fires, with 70-80% of bacterial cells viable. This represents a newly identified mechanism for microorganism emissions and transport with global implications for biodiversity. In addition, ice nucleation activity in smoke, predominantly associated with these bioaerosols, is 2- to 6-fold that of air without smoke, suggesting a potential role in pyrocumulonimbus cloud formation and weather. This discovery also implies that research on biomass smoke-related human health impacts should consider the living, potential disease-causing organisms that may be concentrated in smoke. We will discuss both the results and the variety of implications of this new, interdisciplinary line of research.