Global Atmospheric Release of Methoxyphenols From Wildfires

Abstract Wildfires burn surface vegetation and release lignin‐derived compounds, such as methoxyphenols. Methoxyphenols in the atmosphere are pivotal in modulating climate change, secondary particle pollution, and human health risks. However, the quantity of methoxyphenol emissions from vegetation due to wildfires and their spatiotemporal trends remain unclear on a global scale. Here, we established a global atmospheric emission inventory of methoxyphenol due to wildfires at 0.25° × 0.25° resolution from 2001 to 2020, and clarified their global spatial distribution and seasonal variations. The annual emissions of methoxyphenol released by wildfires globally range from 798.6 to 1385.3 Gg, with Africa being the region with the highest emissions. Among the cumulative emissions of methoxyphenols, the emission of methyl syringol is the highest, reaching 2809.6 Gg. Simultaneously, alkyl and ketone substituents have higher emissions than those of acid substances. For land cover types, the proportion of methoxyphenols emitted from the burning of deciduous broadleaf forests is the highest, possibly because the fallen leaves provide ample fuel for the fire. These findings depict the global methoxyphenol pollution caused by wildfires, providing a foundation for further exploration of the methoxyphenols‐mediated environmental, climate, and health effects from wildfires.