Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 4 5 2004 10.5194/acpd-4-5345-2004 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/5345/2004/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/5345/2004/acpd-4-5345-2004.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/5345/2004/acpd-4-5345-2004.pdf 5345 5365 2004-09-15 Observations of oxidation products above a forest imply biogenic emissions of very reactive compounds R. Holzinger holzing@nature.berkeley.edu A. Lee K. T. Paw U A. H. Goldstein 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 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^−2 h^−1 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.