Ground-level ozone influenced by circadian control of isoprene emissions

Hewitt, CN; Ashworth, K; Boynard, A; Guenther, A; Langford, B; Mackenzie, AR; Misztal, PK; Nemitz, E; Owen, SM; Possell, M; Pugh, TAM; Ryan, AC; Wild, O

HERO ID

786512

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2011

Language

English

HERO ID 786512
In Press No
Year 2011
Title Ground-level ozone influenced by circadian control of isoprene emissions
Authors Hewitt, CN; Ashworth, K; Boynard, A; Guenther, A; Langford, B; Mackenzie, AR; Misztal, PK; Nemitz, E; Owen, SM; Possell, M; Pugh, TAM; Ryan, AC; Wild, O
Journal Nature Geoscience
Volume 4
Issue 10
Page Numbers 671-674
Abstract The volatile organic compound isoprene is produced by many plant species, and provides protection against biotic and abiotic stresses1. Globally, isoprene emissions from plants are estimated to far exceed anthropogenic emissions of volatile organic compounds2. Once in the atmosphere, isoprene reacts rapidly with hydroxyl radicals3 to form peroxy radicals, which can react with nitrogen oxides to form ground-level ozone4. Here, we use canopy-scale measurements of isoprene fluxes from two tropical ecosystems in Malaysia—a rainforest and an oil palm plantation—and three models of atmospheric chemistry to explore the effects of isoprene fluxes on ground-level ozone. We show that isoprene emissions in these ecosystems are under circadian control on the canopy scale, particularly in the oil palm plantation. As a result, these ecosystems emit less isoprene than present emissions models predict. Using local-, regional- and global-scale models of atmospheric chemistry and transport, we show that accounting for circadian control of isoprene emissions brings model predictions of ground-level ozone into better agreement with measurements, especially in isoprene-sensitive regions of the world.
Doi 10.1038/ngeo1271
Wosid WOS:000295403900011
Url http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/ngeo1271
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments Source: Web of Science WOS:000295403900011
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Is Qa No