On the emission of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur in the atmosphere during bushfires in intertropical savannah zones

The fluxes of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur emitted to the atmosphere during bushfires in intertropical savannah zones are evaluated by measuring these three elements in various samples of plants and ashes collected before and after the fires in a savannah of Ivory Coast. We show that almost all the carbon and nitrogen, and over half the sulfur contained in the vegetation are released into the atmosphere during bushfires. Owing to the great extent of the areas burnt annually, this phenomenon constitutes an important spurge of C, N and S for the atmosphere : 1‐3.1×109 ton carbon, 5‐15×106 ton nitrogen and 0.4‐1.2×106 ton sulfur.