An overview of atmospheric measurements made during the IS4FIRES experiment at Hyytiälä, Finland

Atmospheric measurements have been carried out during the IS4FIRES Experiment to be conducted in June, 2009 at Hyytiälä, Finland. The overall experiment objective is to develop an Integrated Monitoring and Modelling System (IS) for wildland fires (IS4FIRES). This includes detection of major wildland fires using satellite remote sensing, modelling both the fire spread and the atmospheric dispersion of the fire plume, and to determine the source areas using a combination of ground-based air quality measurements and a long-range transport modelling system. The field measurement campaign includes an extensive array of gas and particulate samplers located at the SMEAR II (Station for Measuring Forest Ecosystem - Atmosphere Relations: http://www.mm.helsinki.fi/hyytiala/english/research.htm) site, augmented with additional sensors specific to this experiment. Meteorological sensors were placed directly in and around the burn unit to better understand the convergence zone associated with the fire plume. Aircraft measurements of aerosols and meteorological conditions within and downwind of the plume are also planned. This paper will present an overview of the experiment design and some preliminary results.