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Fires in Central America worsen air quality in Texas mongabay.com October 10, 2006 Agricultural fires in Central America can impact air quality and climate in Texas, Oklahoma, and other parts of the southern United States according to new research from NASA.
"By blocking incoming sunlight, the smoke plumes also cooled surface air temperatures over land. But higher in the atmosphere the smoke absorbed solar radiation and warmed temperatures. This created a circulation pattern that trapped smoke aerosols in the lower atmosphere, worsening air quality," explained NASA. The space agency said that the research may help scientists improve weather forecasts by better understanding the role of smoke and aerosols on climate. Fires are set on a seasonal basis in Central America for land-clearing and agricultural waste (biomass) burning. The paper follows up on research published last year indicating that tropical deforestation can affect US climate. Using data from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Duke University researchers found that deforestation in the Amazon region of South America influences rainfall in Texas and in the Gulf of Mexico, while forest loss in Central Africa affects precipitation patterns in the upper and lower Midwest of the United States. NASA: Central American Fires Impact U.S. Air Quality and Climate This article uses quotes and information from a NASA news release. Recommend this article? Comments? >Digg this article | >Hugg this article | Contact News options
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