Arizona was the site of a 400,000-acre wildfire in June 2002.How much carbon dioxide was produced by this fire? Assume that the density of carbon on the acreage was 10 kg/m² and that 50% of the biomass burned (10,000 m² = 2.47 acre).

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The calculation involves converting the area from acres to square meters, calculating the total mass of carbon, and then determining the mass of CO2 produced. Given that 1 acre = 4046.86 m^2, the total area in square meters is 400,000 acres * 4046.86 m^2/acre = 1.618744e+9 m^2. With a density of 10 kg/m^2, the total carbon is 1.618744e+10 kg. Since 50% burns, the burned carbon mass is 8.09372e+9 kg. Carbon combines with oxygen to form CO2, with a ratio of 12:44 by mass (molecular weights of C and CO2), so the total CO2 produced is 8.09372e+9 kg * (44/12) = 2.981e+10 kg, which is 3 x 10^10 kg.

Arizona Was the Site of a 400,000-Acre Wildfire in June