Missing OH reactivity in a forest: evidence for unknown reactive biogenic VOCs

TitleMissing OH reactivity in a forest: evidence for unknown reactive biogenic VOCs
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsDi Carlo P, Brune WH, Martinez M, Harder H, Lesher R, Ren X, Thornberry TDean, Carroll MAnne, Young V, Shepson PB, Riemer DD, Apel EC, Campbell C
JournalScience
Volume304
Pagination722-725
Date Published04/2004
KeywordsVEGETATION
Abstract

Forest emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), such as isoprene and other terpenes, play a role in the production of troposhperic ozone and aerosols. In a northern Michigan forest, the direct measurement of total OH reactivity, which is the inverse of the OH lifetime, was significantly greater than expected. The difference between measured and expected OH reactivity, called the missing OH reactivity, increased with temperature, as did emission rates for terpenes and other BVOCs. These measurements are consistent with the hypothesis that unknown reactive BVOCs, perhaps terpenes, provide the missing OH reactivity.

DOI10.1126/science.1094392