Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 5 5 2005 10.5194/acpd-5-10517-2005 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/5/10517/2005/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/5/10517/2005/acpd-5-10517-2005.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/5/10517/2005/acpd-5-10517-2005.pdf 10517 10612 2005-10-25 Impact of biogenic hydrocarbons on tropospheric chemistry: results from a global chemistry-climate model G. A. Folberth D. A. Hauglustaine J. Lathière F. Brocheton Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), Gif-sur-Yvette, France Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques (CNRM), Météo France, Toulouse, France now at: School of Earth and Ocean Science (SEOS), University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada We present a description and evaluation of LMDz-INCA, a global three-dimensional chemistry-climate model, pertaining to its recently developed NMHC version. In this substantially extended version of the model a comprehensive representation of the photochemistry of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from biogenic, anthropogenic, and biomass-burning sources has been included. The tropospheric annual mean methane (9.2 years) and methylchloroform (5.5 years) chemical lifetimes are well within the range of previous modelling studies and are in excellent agreement with estimates established by means of global observations. The model provides a reasonable simulation of the horizontal and vertical distribution and seasonal cycle of CO and key non-methane VOC, such as acetone, methanol, and formaldehyde as compared to observational data from several ground stations and aircraft campaigns. LMDz-INCA in the NMHC version reproduces tropospheric ozone concentrations fairly well throughout most of the troposphere. The model is applied in several sensitivity studies of the biosphere-atmosphere photochemical feedback. The impact of surface emissions of isoprene, acetone, and methanol is studied. These experiments show a substantial impact of isoprene on tropospheric ozone and carbon monoxide concentrations revealing an increase in surface O₃ and CO levels of up to 30 ppbv and 60 ppbv, respectively. Isoprene also appears to significantly impact the global OH distribution resulting in a decrease of the global mean tropospheric OH concentration by approximately 0.9×10⁵ molecules cm^−3 or roughly 10% and an increase in the global mean tropospheric methane lifetime by approximately four months. A global mean ozone net radiative forcing due to the isoprene induced increase in the tropospheric ozone burden of 0.09W m^−2 is found. The key role of isoprene photooxidation in the global tropospheric redistribution of NO_x is demonstrated. LMDz-INCA calculates an increase of PAN surface mixing ratios ranging from 75 to 750 pptv and 10 to 250 pptv during northern hemispheric summer and winter, respectively. Acetone and methanol are found to play a significant role in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UT/LS) budget of peroxy radicals. Calculations with LMDz-INCA show an increase in HO_x concentrations region of 8 to 15% and 10 to 15% due to methanol and acetone biogenic surface emissions, respectively. The model has been used to estimate the global tropospheric CO budget. A global CO source of 3019 TgCO yr^−1 is estimated. This source divides into a primary source of 1533 TgCO yr^−1 and secondary source of 1489 TgCO yr^−1 deriving from VOC photooxidation. Global VOC-to-CO conversion efficiencies of 90% for methane and between 20 and 45% for individual VOC are calculated by LMDz-INCA.