Jacobson created a three-dimensional computer model to assess the effects of biomass burning on the climate and found that it is playing a much bigger role than previously thought.
Focusing at the effects on public health, the study found that biomass burning causes 5% to 10% of global deaths resulting from air pollution.
Jacobson said: "That means that it causes the premature deaths of about 250,000 people each year."
The study found that anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions not caused by biomass burning account for 39 billion tons per year.
Jacobson however revealed that 8.5 billion tons, around 18%, of non-burning emissions, are caused by biomass burning.
The three-dimensional computer model also tracks the impact of the direct heat produced by combusting biomass.
Jacobson noted that the direct heat generated by burning biomass is significant, and contributes to cloud evaporation by reducing relative humidity.
"We’ve determined that 7 percent of the total net warming caused by biomass burning – that is, 7 percent of the 0.4 degree Celsius net warming gain – can be attributed to the direct heat caused by the fires."
"The bottom line is that biomass burning is neither clean nor climate-neutral. If you’re serious about addressing global warming, you have to deal with biomass burning as well."
Image: Agricultural burning contributes significantly to climate change and adverse health effects. Photo: Courtesy of Shutterstock.
