Isoprene emission from tropical trees in Okinawa Island, Japan

This study surveyed isoprene emission from 42 indigenous and exotic tropical trees in subtropic Okinawa, Japan. Of the 42 trees studied, 4 emitted isoprene at a rate in excess of 20 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹, and 28 showed the rates of 1–10 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹. The remainder emitted less than 1 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹. The majority of trees in this study may therefore fall within the lower emitting species. However, species in Moraceae that is indigenous in Okinawa emitted isoprene at relatively higher rates with an average of 14.2 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹. The highest emission rate of 107.1 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for Ficus virgata yielded the area basis rate of 47.4 nmol m⁻² s⁻¹, which is almost equivalent to the rate of high emitting species. Furthermore, a linear relationship between light intensity and isoprene emission was noted with Ficus virgata up to 1700 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. These findings may show the potential importance of subtropical areas as sources of isoprene to the atmosphere.     

Reviews of emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in Asia

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in the atmosphere play important roles in the formation of ground-level ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in global scale and also in regional scale under some condition due to their large amount and relatively higher reactivity. In places with high plant cover in the tropics and in China where air pollution is serious, the effect of BVOCs on ozone and secondary organic aerosols is strong. The present research aims to provide a comprehensive review about the emission rate, emission inventory, research methods, the influencing factors of BVOCs emissions, as well as their impacts on atmospheric environment quality and human health in recent years in Asia based on the summary and analysis of literatures. It is suggested to use field direct measurement method to obtain the emission rate and model method to calculate the emission amount. Several recommendations are given for future investigation and policy development on BVOCs emission.     

Polar organic tracers in PM2.5 aerosols from an inland background area in Southwest China: Correlations between secondary organic aerosol tracers and source apportionment

PM_(2.5) aerosol samples were collected over 12 hr and 24 hr intervals in an inland background area, Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve(hereafter shortened to Gongga), during the summer of 2011. Polar organic tracers, inorganic ions and meteorological data were measured. The purpose of this work was to investigate the variation patterns, formation and sources of the secondary organic aerosol tracers in the studied atmosphere. The average concentrations of isoprene oxidation products, α-pinene oxidation products, β-caryophyllinic acid, sugars, sugar alcohols and anhydrosugars were 88.6 ± 106.1, 3.6 ± 5.7,0.13 ± 0.30, 13.6 ± 13.1, 31.9 ± 31.4 and 14.8 ± 10.7 ng/m3 respectively in all aerosol samples.The aged α-pinene second organic aerosol(SOA) tracers(i.e., 3-hydroxyglutraric acid(3 HGA), 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylglutaric acid(HDMGA), 3-acetylpentandioic acid(APDA) and 3-methyl-1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid(MBTCA)) correlated significantly with each other in the 24 hr PM2.5 aerosol samples, indicating that OH· is the major factor controlling the formation of these α-pinene SOA tracers. Using the positive matrix factorization(PMF) model and the tracer-based source apportionment method, we calculated that isoprene oxidation products, α-pinene oxidation products, sesquiterpene oxidation products, biomass burning, fungi spores and anthropogenic SOA accounted for 21.9% ± 5.5%, 8.4% ± 2.1%, 3.0% ± 0.7%, 5.2% ± 5.3%, 5.0% ± 6.2% and 31.4% ± 7.8% of organic carbon respectively during the sampling period.     

Emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from tropical plant species in India

Foliar emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from common Indian plant species was measured. Dynamic flow enclosure technique was used and the gas samples were collected onto Tenax-GC/Carboseive cartridges. The Tenax-GC/Carboseive cartridges were attached to the thermal disorber sample injection system and the gas sample was analysed using gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detection (FID). Fifty-one local plant species were screened, out of which 36 species were found to emit VOC (4 high emitter; 28 moderate emitter; and 4 low-emitter), while in the remaining 15 species no VOC emission was detected or the levels of emission were below detection limit (BDL). VOC emission was found to vary from one species to another. There was a marked seasonal and diurnal variation in VOC emission. The minimum and maximum VOC emission values were < 0.1 and 87 microgg(-1) dry leaf h(-1) in Ficus infectoria and Lantana camara respectively. Out of the 51 plant species studied, 13 species are reported here for the first time. Among the nine tree species (which were selected for detailed study), the highest average hourly emission (9.69+/-8.39 microgg(-1) dry leaf) was observed in Eucalyptus species and the minimum in Syzygium jambolanum (1.89+/-2.48 microgg(-1) dry leaf). An attempt has been made to compare VOC emission from different plant species between present study and the literature (tropical and other regions).     

Atmospheric isoprene and monoterpenes in a typical urban area of Beijing: Pollution characterization, chemical reactivity and source identification

Continuous observation of isoprene, α-pinene and β-pinene was carried out in a typical urban area of Beijing from March 2014 to February 2015, using an AirmoV OC online analyzer. Based on the analysis of the ambient level and variation characteristics of isoprene, α-pinene and β-pinene, the chemical reactivity was studied, and their sources were identified. Results showed that the concentrations of isoprene, α-pinene and β-pinene in the urban area of Beijing were lower than those in richly vegetated areas; the concentrations of isoprene were at a moderate level compared with those of previous studies of Beijing. Concentrations of isoprene, α-pinene and β-pinene showed different seasonal, monthly, daily and diurnal variations, and all of the three species showed higher level at night than those in the daytime as a whole, the variations of isoprene, α-pinene and β-pinene mainly influenced by emission of sources, photochemical reaction, and meteorological parameters. Isoprene was the largest contributor to the total OFP values than α-pinene and β-pinene. α-Pinene was the largest contributor to the total SOAFP values than isoprene and β-pinene in autumn, while isoprene was the largest one in other seasons. Isoprene, α-pinene and β-pinene were derived mainly from biological sources; and α-pinene level were also affected by industrial sources. To reduce the concentrations of isoprene, α-pinene and β-pinene, it is necessary to scientifically select urban green plant species, and more strict control measures should be taken to reduce the emission of α-pinene from industrial sources, such as artificial flavors and resins synthesis processes.     

A land use database and examples of biogenic isoprene emission estimates for the state of Texas, USA

Using data from a variety of sources, land use and vegetation in Texas were mapped with a spatial resolution of approximately 1 km. Over 600 classifications were used to characterize the land use and land cover throughout the state and field surveys were performed to assign leaf biomass densities, by species, to the land cover classifications. The total leaf biomass densities associated with these land use classifications ranged from 0 to 556 g/m², with the highest assigned total and oak leaf biomass densities located in central and eastern Texas. The land cover data were used as input to a biogenic emissions model, GLOBEIS2. Estimates of biogenic emissions of isoprene based on GLOBEIS2 and the new land cover data showed significant differences when compared to biogenic isoprene emissions estimated using previous land cover data and emission estimation procedures. For example, for one typical domain in eastern Texas, total daily isoprene emissions increased by 38% with the new modeling tools. These results may ultimately affect the way in which ozone and other photochemical pollutants are modeled and evaluated in the state of Texas.     

内蒙古草原典型草地异戊二烯的排放特征

为准确了解内蒙古草原典型草地异戊二烯的排放状况 ,在 2 0 0 2和 2 0 0 3年观测实验的基础上 ,利用已有的经验模式和观测资料 ,计算了羊草样地 2 0 0 2和 2 0 0 3年生长季节异戊二烯的排放通量 .结果表明 :2 0 0 2和 2 0 0 3年异戊二烯排放具有明显的日、逐日、月、年变化 ,其排放通量首先依赖于可见光辐射 ,其次是温度 .2 0 0 2和 2 0 0 3年生长季羊草样地异戊二烯总排放 (以C计 )分别为 1 10 ,1 0 0g·m- 2 ,2 0 0 3年比 2 0 0 2年减少9 0 % .此现象主要是由于 2 0 0 3年可见光辐射减弱和气温降低造成的 .2 0 0 2和 2 0 0 3年生长季排放通量的最大值 (以C计 )分别为 2 3 3 2 0和193 3 8μg·m- 2 ·h- 1 ,当可见光辐射小时累计值小于 0 4MJ·m- 2 时 ,异戊二烯的排放通量一般为零     

BVOC emissions, photosynthetic characteristics and changes in chloroplast ultrastructure of Platanus orientalis L. exposed to elevated CO2 and high temperature

To investigate the interactive effects of increasing [CO₂] and heat wave occurrence on isoprene (IE) and methanol (ME) emissions, Platanus orientalis was grown for one month in ambient (380 μmol mol⁻¹) or elevated (800 μmol mol⁻¹) [CO₂] and exposed to high temperature (HT) (38 °C/4 h). In pre-existing leaves, IE emissions were always higher but ME emissions lower as compared to newly-emerged leaves. They were both stimulated by HT. Elevated [CO₂] significantly reduced IE in both leaf types, whereas it increased ME in newly-emerged leaves only. In newly-emerged leaves, elevated [CO₂] decreased photosynthesis and altered the chloroplast ultrastructure and membrane integrity. These harmful effects were amplified by HT. HT did not cause any unfavorable effects in pre-existing leaves, which were characterized by inherently higher IE rates. We conclude that: (1) these results further prove the isoprene's putative thermo-protective role of membranes; (2) HT may likely outweigh the inhibitory effects of elevated [CO₂] on IE in the future.     

Condensed atmospheric photooxidation mechanisms for isoprene

Two condensed mechanisms for the atmospheric reactions of isoprene, which differ in the number of species used to represent isoprene's reactive products, have been developed for use in ambient air quality modehng. They are based on a detailed isoprene mechanism that has recently been developed and extensively evaluated against environmental chamber data. The new condensed mechanisms give very close predictions to those of the detailed mechanism for ozone, OH radicals, nitric acid, H₂O₂, formaldehyde, total PANS, and for incremental effects of isoprene on ozone formation in one day simulations. The effects of the condensations become somewhat greater in multi-day simulations, particularly in cases where NO₃ reactions are important at nighttime, but the ozone predictions are still very close. On the other hand, the SAPRC-90, RADM-2, and Carbon Bond IV isoprene mechanisms give quite different predictions of these quantities. It is recommended that the new mechanisms replace those currently used in airshed simulations where isoprene emissions are important.