Air quality affected by biomass burning at the Parana ´River Delta on rural and industrial coastal areas of greater Rosario, Argentina

Abstract

Biomass combustion releases various gaseous pollutants and aerosol particles, impacting human health and climate. This study evaluates the effects of biomass burning in the Parana ´ River Delta on air quality in coastal areas of Greater Rosario, Argentina, focusing on the industrial site of San Lorenzo (SL) and the rural site of Fighiera (FI), from September 6 to 17, 2022. The research examines the transport of pollutants, specifically NO2, CO, and (total and Black Carbon) aerosols, and their correlations. During this period, the Tropospheric Vertical Column Density (VCDtrop) for NO2 peaked at over 1.40 × 1016 molecules/cm2 in Fighiera on September 16, 2022, while CO reached 3.29 × 1018 molecules/cm2 in San Lorenzo on September 13, 2022. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) exceeded 0.5 at both sites on September 13, 2022, linked to air masses from the fire-affected region. Additionally, the Fire Radiative Power (FRP) of the fires reached approximately 10 GW on September 13, 2022. A comparison with non-fire periods revealed that Fighiera, typically showing good air quality with lower pollutant levels than San Lorenzo, experienced a rise in pollutant concentrations during the biomass burning events, highlighting the significant impact of fire on local air quality.