Updated African biomass burning emission inventories in the framework of the AMMA-IDAF program, with an evaluation of combustion aerosols

African biomass burning emission inventories for gases and particles (AMMABB) have been constructed at a resolution of 1 km by 1 km with daily coverage for the 2000-2007 period. They have been evaluated using the ORISAM-TM4 global chemistry transport model, which includes a detailed aerosol module. This paper discussed comparisons between modelled results and new AMMA measurements for surface BC and OC concentrations and scattering coefficients, aerosol optical depths and single scattering albedo from sunphotometer and satellite data. Major aerosol seasonal and interannual evolution over the period 2004-2007 observed at Djougou (Benin) and Banizoumbou (Niger) AMMA/IDAF sites are well reproduced by our global model, showing the importance of using accurate biomass burning emissions. It is the first time to our knowledge that a global model treating core/shell mixing for optical calculations reproduces aerosol optical depths (AOD) values of the same order as satellite and AERONET data. Comparison of simulated and measured concentrations for different class sizes simulated by the model give information on possible refinements of the emissions, according to the particulate size fraction, which have an impact on aerosol optical properties.