EMISSIONS FROM BIOMASS OPEN BURNING ON THE PEAT SOIL IN INDONESIA: INTEGRATING MODIS IMAGERY AND GIS DATA

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EMISSIONS FROM BIOMASS OPEN BURNING ON THE PEAT SOIL IN INDONESIA: INTEGRATING MODIS IMAGERY AND GIS DATA

Ayu UTAMI1, and Chih-Hua CHANG2

1 Department of Environmental Engineering, National Pembangunan University “Veteran” Yogyakarta,

Jl. SWK 104 Condong Catur, Depok, Sleman, [email protected]

2. Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, No.1 University Road,

Tainan City, Taiwan, 701, [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Biomass open burning emissions release large amounts of pollutant, which has significantly contributed to the atmospheric pollution. This phenomenon also generates as a major influence on climate change. Southeast Asia currently has vast areas committed to agriculture, which is a major contributor of biomass open burning emissions. Satellite imagery and remote sensing is used in this study to calculate the burned area and emissions in the spatial context of Southeast Asia. The aim of this research is to obtain the importance of peat soil burning in Indonesia affected the amount of biomass open burning emissions in Southeast Asia. The burning of peat soil in Indonesia also emits large of emissions, therefore this case has taken as a specific topic in this research. MODIS burned area and land cover data products were used to detect the burned areas and estimate the emission factor in Southeast Asia related to emissions calculation. As a result of this research, on 2001-2007, on May to October, Indonesia contributes a significant involvement; approximately 80% of the total burned in Southeast Asia was occurred in Indonesia. Data and results from this research can be applied for regulatory consideration to countries that participate in the Southeast Asia governing body. Keywords: Biomass open burning, MODIS, remote sensing, peat soil, Indonesia

INTRODUCTION

Biomass open burning is staggering large amount of pollutant into the atmosphere which have significant influence on climate change and atmospheric chemistry in the tropics (Crutzen and Andreae 1990, Streets, Yarber et al. 2003). In most area in the world, biomass open burning would have detrimental impacts of economies, human health and safety, with consequences that are significance and severity comparable to other major natural hazard (Miettinen 2007). Biomass open burning commonly occurs in the tropic area because of the combustion of the surface vegetation for clearing the waste post-harvest and land use change (Crutzen and Andreae 1990).

Indonesia is the third highest main contributor of GHG emissions (IPCC 2006). Peat soil open burning emissions from Indonesia also had been calculated in this research. Peat soil open burning in Indonesia considered as the major source of biomass open burning emissions in Southeast Asia (Page, Siegert et al. 2002). The fluctuation of burning events, emissions, and the pattern are explicate abundance about the impacts, cause of burning and the significant of biomass open burning in Southeast Asia during 2001-2007. Using satellite data as an approach of Satellite-detected hot spots are the best available fire indicator for many regions of the world (Duncan 2003) and provide a means for quantifying the underlying causes of fire, especially in regions such as Indonesia which lack systematic aerial estimates of burned area. High-resolution satellite data may be desired, but their spatial coverage is limited, the number of time-series observations is small, and data analyses require expensive advanced computational resources. Moderate-resolution satellite sensors are appropriate for

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larger-scale dynamic system studies. With these characteristics, retrievals from MODIS have been widely used for vegetation detection and its changes (Huete, Didan et al. 2002).

The objective of this research is to obtain the importance of peat soil burning in Indonesia affected

the amount of biomass open burning emissions in Southeast Asia. The comparison between calculation of emission without and with considering the peat soil burning can explained how significant the affect of peat soil burning in Indonesia and its contribution in Southeast Asia. METHODOLOGY A. Material

To analyze a burned area and then estimate the emissions in that area, this study used satellite data. Such data from satellite was processed to obtain the value of the burned area (the value of the burned area is in pixel form and then converted it to kilometer2. For the burned area data products, MODIS burned area product, MCD45A1 were used in this research.

MCD45A1 is a monthly data product with medium resolution (500m) data quality which contains burning and quality information on per-pixel basis. Burned area mapping in this tropical region is using medium resolution (250-500m) satellite imagery which characterized by persisting cloud cover, a wide range of land cover types, vast amounts of wetland areas and highly varying fire regimes (Miettinen 2007). The results showed that the MCD45A1 product could capture 75% of the burned area detected by Landsat data (Chang and Song 2009).

Forest cover, croplands and other land cover data from 2001-2007 were obtained from a land cover classification scheme of MODIS MCD12Q1. MCD12Q1 includes 5 layers in which land cover is mapped using a different classification system such as International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) classification, 14-class system developed at the University of Maryland (UMD), and the 6-biome system used by the MODIS LAI/FPAR algorithm. In this study, land cover data identified 17 classes of land cover in the IGBP global vegetation scheme with spatial resolution of 250 meters. Conjunction between the burned area product and land cover product developed an emission factor, combustion factor, and a mass of fuel value for the estimation, equation (1).

Burning from peat soil in Indonesia is also considered for calculation. Hence, soil maps from the FAO soil classification scheme are used for the peat soil emission estimation. According to the classification, peat soil is referred to as a histosols type which is defined as soil having an organic soil horizon of at least 40 centimeters (Chang and Song 2009). B. Methodology

Emissions of trace gases and aerosols from open biomass burning are estimated from burning areas, fuel load, combustion factors, and emission factors. Estimation of emissions was calculated with the formula and method from the IPCC Report, 2006. The formula to calculate emissions from biomass open burning is shown below;

(1) Lfire: amount of greenhouse gas emissions from fire, tonnes of each GHG e.g., CH4, N2O, etc; A: area burned, kilometer2; Mb: mass of fuel available for combustion, tonnes kilometer-2; Cf: combustion factor, dimensionless; Gef: emission factor, g kg-1 dry matter burned (IPCC 2006).

The burned area was quantified by using satellite data. Emission factor, and combustion factor that used in this estimation was based on IPCC Report, 2006. The value of mass of fuel load in this research was taken from previous research about biomass burning (Levine 2000).

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RESULT AND DISCUSSION A. Southeast Asia Biomass Open Burning Emissions

Biomass burning provides a substantial contribution to carbonaceous particles in the

atmosphere (Latif 2011). In the developing world, however, open burning is still favorable and continues to be the cheapest, easiest, most sanitary means of volume reduction and disposal of combustible materials. These activities are considered to be potential major sources of emissions releases and the most recent emissions data are presented (Estrellan and Iino 2010). Based on seasonal burned area pattern from this research, there are 3 different types of seasonal pattern; type 1 is consists of Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Philippines; type 2 is Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia; type 3 is Indonesia. Type 1 region has a peak burned area during February and March. The peak of this type appeared because of dry season and preparing for planting rice season in that region (IRRI 2011, ADB 2012). Type 2 has a peak burned area during December to March. In Thailand and Cambodia during November to March have dry season. Indonesia has different pattern from the other country in SEA. Type 3 region is consist only Indonesia. In this type of burned area pattern, the peak of burned area is occurred on August. Thailand is one of the largest rice importer, thus, Thailand contribute the biomass open burning from rice straw. Meanwhile, in Myanmar because of slash and burn activity and in Indonesia because of rice straw open burning and wild fires in peat soil.

To estimate the emissions from biomass open burning, based on IPCC guidelines on 2006, each land cover type has a different emissions factor and also combustion factor. Thus, in this research, a land cover classification scheme should be overlaid to the burned area data product to determine the fuel load value. Total emissions of biomass open burning is the amount of biomass open burning in each kind of agricultural land cover emission. The difference of contributing emissions in each land cover is dependent on the emission factor, combustion factor, and mass of fuel that is used for calculation.

Burning event in each month is related to the emission estimation. Despite of the others factors such as emission factor, combustion factor and mass of fuel load also affect the value of emissions, the pattern of burned area is one of the considerable among others factors. Table 1 represent the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions from biomass open burning in Southeast Asia. Table 1.The annual total amount of CO2 emissions in (Tg) 2001-2007

(Tg/month) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Jan 5.06121 8.14926 4.57703 46.3737 7.46351 3.57619 27.0639

Feb 21.6887 14.4057 4.7503 36.8959 58.0568 15.7015 22.4184

Mar 17.0211 10.6138 11.724 78.254 14.8939 13.6784 57.0321

Apr 6.22176 10.082 8.17581 1.79516 6.05342 3.46326 12.632

May 0.00292 0.06428 0.29352 0.84816 0.13338 0.12435 0.53929

Jun 0.01526 0.2653 1.01426 0.60169 0.09548 0.32623 0.34235

Jul 0.12878 0.46411 0.71122 5.11978 0.39807 1.30326 0.1394

August 13.5684 1.42223 0.89877 53.5057 0.51514 8.49709 2.01904

Sep 0.22887 2.54538 5.69048 3.1717 4.90064 20.925 1.73608

Oct 0.07249 7.97509 6.68933 13.5587 0.0512 33.9639 0.00625

Nov 0.05732 0.04246 0.27419 1.73189 0.04658 1.42275 0.17316

Dec 1.67728 0.06431 1.27913 29.8633 0.86803 3.89981 3.6131

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B. Indonesian Burned Area

Burned area calculations were determined by using satellite data from the MODIS burned area product, MCD45A1. MODIS burned area products provide monthly data with the medium resolution quality of image. The calculation result of the burned area is from the process of integrating between MODIS Imagery and GIS data. SEA has an enormous agriculture area. However, to obtain an open burning of agriculture area data, conjunction with land cover data is needed.

Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago, is located between the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. A large part of its land area is coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains. The country has extensive natural resources, including abundant forest and oceanic resources, fertile land, and rich deposits of petroleum, natural gas, tin, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, coal, gold and silver. Indonesia has a well-balanced economy in which all major sectors play an important role. Agriculture (including animal husbandry, fishing and forestry) is both an important source of export earnings and formal employment, and the means by which the majority of the Indonesian rural population subsists (FAO 2008). The highlighted data on the Table 2

Table shows the largest burned areas that occur in a year. August is a peak burned season in Indonesia. Burned season is occurring on dry season during June to September. According to the Table 2, wet season in Indonesia is occurring during February to June. Table 2. Indonesia burned area (km2)

Month 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

1 0 0,25 0,25 0,25 2 0 0,25

2 0 1,25 0,25 0 3,5 0,25 1,5

3 0 0,75 7,25 1,5 4,25 1 0,75

4 1,5 1,25 25,75 5,5 9,5 0,5 8,5

5 14 64,75 77 51 125,25 15 55,5

6 0 320,25 249 177,25 175,75 98 150

7 64 400,25 363,75 365,5 228,75 601 159,75

8 544,25 1246 307 1110 281,75 1206 367,25

9 238,25 1343,75 205,75 416 236,25 1026,75 890,25

10 35 1614,75 89,75 401 44,25 775,5 137,5

11 0 10,75 5,75 32,5 0,75 175,75 3

12 0 0 0 7 0 5,25 0,25

Total 897 5004 1331,5 2567,5 1112 3905 1774,5

C. Biomass open burning on the peat soil in Indonesia

Peat soil burning is one of important source of biomass open burning emissions. These studies analyze how important the emissions from peat soil burning influence the biomass open burning emissions. Peat soil burning considered being the source of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. Forest fire in Indonesia has been become the main center of awareness of numerous people, activist and researcher. The conjunction between soil map and burned area data was used to generate open burning area map on peat soil. This map shows that some open burning in Indonesia was determined in peat soil. After the calculation, the total amount of biomass open burning in Indonesia is significantly increased.

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Figure 1 and Figure 2 explained about the significant of peat soil burning contribution in Indonesia. Indonesia has the highest biomass burning emissions value among the others country in Southeast Asia. Hence, Indonesia is the third highest GHG emissions contributor around the world.

The significance of emission from peat soil burning can be seen from the spatial pattern of the emission in Figure 2. This figure shows that the contribution of peat soil burning on biomass open burning emission is significantly affect the contribution of emissions in the atmosphere. Peat soil burning in Indonesia increased the percentage of contribution from biomass open burning. Without considering the peat soil burning, Indonesia the 4th larger contributor but with peat soil burning emissions consideration, Indonesia can contribute around 84% of CO2 emission. This result explained how significant the peat soil burning emissions in Indonesia emits the atmosphere.

Figure 1. Peat soil burning in Indonesia contribution

Figure 2. CO2 emission comparison between with and without the consideration of peat soil burning emission

Myanmar

7% Cambodia

1%

Laos

1%

Thailand

3%

Vietnam

3%

Malaysia

0%

Indonesia

84%

Philippines

1%

CO2 emissions

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CONCLUSION 1. Burned Area:

a. There is a peak of biomass burning emission estimation in Indonesia from this research. The peak of burning is occurred during August to October.

2. Peat soil burning emission contribution: a. Most of peat soil area in Southeast Asia is located in Indonesia. Peat soils burning in

Indonesia significantly influence the emission of biomass open burning in Southeast Asia b. The CO2 emission from peat soil burning in Indonesia is estimated contribute around 84%

on Southeast Asia biomass open burning emissions. 3. The data from burned area product is still has an uncertainty because the small-sized

agricultural fires were difficult to detect by satellite sensors. 4. Peat soil burning emissions also have an uncertainty on emission factor, combustion factor,

and mass of fuel load REFERENCES ADB (2012). "myanmar-in-transition." Chang, D. and Y. Song (2009). "Estimates of biomass burning emissions in tropical Asia based on satellite-derived data." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP) 9. Crutzen, P. J. and M. O. Andreae (1990). "Biomass Burning in the Tropics: Impact on Atmospheric Chemistry and Biogeochemical Cycles." Science 250. Duncan, B. N. (2003). "Interannual and seasonal variability of biomass burning emissions constrained by satellite observations." Journal of Geophysical Research 108(D2). Estrellan, C. R. and F. Iino (2010). "Toxic emissions from open burning." Chemosphere 80(3): 193-207. FAO (2008). "Selected Indicators of Food and Agricultural Development in the Asia-Pasific 1998-2008 Part I." Huete, A., et al. (2002). "Overview of the radiometric and biophysical performance of the MODIS vegetation indices." Remote Sensing of Environment 83(1–2): 195-213. IPCC (2006). "IPCC Guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories." 4. IRRI (2011). "Annual report IRRI." Latif, M. T. (2011). "Composition of Levoglucosan and Surfactants in Atmospheric Aerosols from Biomass Burning." Aerosol and Air Quality Research. Levine, J. (2000). Global Biomass Burning: A Case Study of the Gaseous and Particulate Emissions Released to the Atmosphere During the 1997 Fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia. Biomass Burning and its Inter-Relationships with the Climate System. J. Innes, M. Beniston and M. Verstraete, Springer Netherlands. 3: 15-31.

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