ACPD

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions

ACPD

1680-7375

Copernicus GmbH

Göttingen, Germany

10.5194/acpd-4-5345-2004

Observations of oxidation products above a forest imply biogenic emissions of very reactive compounds

Holzinger

¹ Lee

¹ Paw U

K. T.

² Goldstein

A. H.

Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM), Division of Ecosystem Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

Atmospheric Science Program, Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, California, USA

15 09 2004

4 5 5345 5365

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Measurements of volatile organic compounds in a pine forest (Central California, 38.90° N, 120.63° W, 1315 m) reveal large quantities of previously unreported oxidation products of short lived biogenic precursors. The emission of biogenic precursors must be in the range of 13–66 µmol m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> to produce the observed oxidation products. That is 6–30 times the emissions of total monoterpenes observed above the forest canopy on a molar basis. These reactive precursors constitute the largest fraction of biogenic emissions at this site, and are not included in current emission inventories. When oxidized by ozone they should efficiently produce secondary aerosol and hydroxyl radicals.