Global Issues:

BIOGENIC VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

The formation of high ozone levels during periods of high radiation and temperature at low wind speeds is an air quality problem of all densely populated areas in the world. The processes for surface ozone formation are in principle understood. Volatile organic compounds (VOC), CO and NOx produce in a complex cycle under the influence of sunlight ozone and other photo oxidants. Photochemically produced ozone adds to the ozone which is naturally present in surface air. However, finer details on the formation of ozone and in particular of other photo oxidants such as PANs, organic nitrates, aldehydes, other carbonlys and hydroperoxides and the influence of biogenic compounds on the formation processes are far from being clear. Several key questions are still open and the development of effective abatement strategies require a better understanding in several fields of research which can be identified as follows: (1) accuracy of emission data of all major natural and manmade precursor sources, (2) key transformation processes,(3) numerical modelling of chemical reaction and transport processes.

Research interest focus on:

(1) Process studies related to the forming of biogenic VOC (BVOC) in plants.

(2) Modelling of processes leading to and controlling the emission of BVOC from plants.

(3) Assessing the variability of BVOC source strength in different compartments of tree canopies under current day climate and future climate conditions.

(4) Evaluation studies of numerical canopy and 3D-chemical-transport models on the basis of integrated field measurements.

Sincerely,

Rainer Steinbrecher

steinbrecher@ifu.fhg.de

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