Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1172
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1172
28 Mar 2025
 | 28 Mar 2025

Wildfires heat the middle troposphere over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau during the peak of fire season

Qiaomin Pei, Chuanfeng Zhao, Yikun Yang, Annan Chen, Zhiyuan Cong, Xin Wan, Haotian Zhang, and Guangming Wu

Abstract. Atmospheric pollutions from biomass burning contribute to climatic and cryospheric changes by influencing solar radiation and the albedos of snow and ice surfaces in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau (HTP). We utilize long‐term MODIS fire products and ground‐based and satellite‐derived aerosol datasets to investigate the primary effect of wildfires from the south slopes of Himalayas on aerosol loading in the HTP. Results show consistent interannual and seasonal variation patterns, as well as statistically significant correlations, between AOD at 500 nm from AERONET stations (Pokhara, QOMS, Nam Co) and Himalayan fire counts. CALIPSO data reveal elevated smoke aerosol extinction coefficients at altitudes of 6~8 km (middle troposphere) in the southern HTP during the peak of fire season (March–April) in 2021. The intense wildfire activity in 2021 likely contributed to mid-tropospheric warming and alterations in the vertical temperature structure, as evidenced by a reduction in the absolute lapse rate, representing the rate of temperature decrease with altitude. This reduction was observed at QOMS, SETS, and Naqu stations when compared to 2022. SBDART simulations estimated increased heating rates (0.38~1.32 K day−1) and atmospheric warming (15.03~22.43 W m−2) in the mid-troposphere due to smoke aerosols. Such warming affects regional atmospheric stability and modulating surface temperatures. It is crucial to research into the heating/cooling processes induced by aerosols and their influence on the vertical temperature structure to comprehensively understand the impacts of aerosols on regional climate and the hydrological cycle.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Sep 2025
Wildfires heat the middle troposphere over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau during the peak of fire season
Qiaomin Pei, Chuanfeng Zhao, Yikun Yang, Annan Chen, Zhiyuan Cong, Xin Wan, Haotian Zhang, and Guangming Wu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 10443–10456, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10443-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10443-2025, 2025
Short summary
Qiaomin Pei, Chuanfeng Zhao, Yikun Yang, Annan Chen, Zhiyuan Cong, Xin Wan, Haotian Zhang, and Guangming Wu

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1172', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 May 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Chuanfeng Zhao, 12 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1172', Anonymous Referee #2, 06 Jun 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Chuanfeng Zhao, 12 Jun 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1172', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 May 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Chuanfeng Zhao, 12 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1172', Anonymous Referee #2, 06 Jun 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Chuanfeng Zhao, 12 Jun 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Chuanfeng Zhao on behalf of the Authors (28 Jun 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (30 Jun 2025) by Suvarna Fadnavis
AR by Chuanfeng Zhao on behalf of the Authors (01 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Sep 2025
Wildfires heat the middle troposphere over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau during the peak of fire season
Qiaomin Pei, Chuanfeng Zhao, Yikun Yang, Annan Chen, Zhiyuan Cong, Xin Wan, Haotian Zhang, and Guangming Wu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 10443–10456, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10443-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10443-2025, 2025
Short summary
Qiaomin Pei, Chuanfeng Zhao, Yikun Yang, Annan Chen, Zhiyuan Cong, Xin Wan, Haotian Zhang, and Guangming Wu
Qiaomin Pei, Chuanfeng Zhao, Yikun Yang, Annan Chen, Zhiyuan Cong, Xin Wan, Haotian Zhang, and Guangming Wu

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
This study investigates smoke's impact on atmospheric warming over the Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau (HTP) using MODIS fire data, ground-based and satellite aerosol observations, and model simulations. It finds that smoke aerosols – predominantly concentrated between 6 and 8 km in the mid-troposphere over southern HTP – likely alter regional atmospheric stability by modifying the vertical temperature profile, as indicated by a reduced lapse rate.
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