Combustion in tropical biomass fires: a critical review

Despite the publication of a number of recent books, mainly edited compilations, on both fire ecology in general and, more specifically, fire ecology in the tropics, it remains difficult to obtain accessible overviews of many aspects of the subject. This is particularly so with regard to tropical biomass fires. The review presented here attempts to fill this gap with regard to the subjects of ignition and combustion in such fires, focusing on natural and anthropogenic ignition sources, the processes of ignition, the stages of combustion, combustion efficiency, fuel type, fuel flammability, fuel preparation, fuel loading and oxygenation of the environment.