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Plant Influences on Atmospheric Chemistry

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Ecology and the Environment

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Abstract

Vegetation emits large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the atmosphere. Plants emit a large suite of biogenic VOCs, and the most prevalent compound emitted from vegetation is isoprene, a non-saturated hydrocarbon with five carbon atoms. The specific compounds and the respective quantities emitted are dependent on the type of vegetation and the environmental conditions. Once emitted, not all biogenic emissions escape the canopy and are released into the atmosphere; therefore, an understanding of the canopy chemical and physical processes is key to the determination of atmospheric concentrations of these compounds. Once in the atmosphere, biogenic VOCs can react and play an important role in air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and climate via reactions that impact atmospheric pollutants, radicals, and greenhouse gases. For example, biogenic VOCs can contribute to the chemistry that forms tropospheric ozone, a pollutant that harms human health and plants. This chapter presents an overview of atmospheric biogenic emissions of VOCs, from their release at the plant level to their transport and release from a canopy, to regional and global chemical and climate impacts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atmospheric Chemistry Division, NCAR Earth System Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 3090 Center Green Drive, 80301, Boulder, CO, USA

    Dr. Christine Wiedinmyer

  2. Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward Street, 48109-2143, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Dr. Allison Steiner

  3. Ecosystems-Atmosphere Interactions Group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kreuzeckbahnstrasse 19, 82467, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

    Dr. Kirsti Ashworth

  4. Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward Street, 48109-2143, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Dr. Kirsti Ashworth

Authors
  1. Dr. Christine Wiedinmyer
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  2. Dr. Allison Steiner
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  3. Dr. Kirsti Ashworth
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christine Wiedinmyer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA

    Russell K Monson

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Wiedinmyer, C., Steiner, A., Ashworth, K. (2013). Plant Influences on Atmospheric Chemistry. In: Monson, R. (eds) Ecology and the Environment. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7612-2_7-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7612-2_7-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7612-2

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