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Atmospheric oxidation capacity sustained by a tropical forest

Author

Listed:
  • J. Lelieveld

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • T. M. Butler

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • J. N. Crowley

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • T. J. Dillon

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • H. Fischer

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • L. Ganzeveld

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • H. Harder

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • M. G. Lawrence

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • M. Martinez

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • D. Taraborrelli

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • J. Williams

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 27 Becherweg, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

Abstract

Forest self-reliance Measurements taken by aircraft flying over the Amazon rain forest reveal unexpectedly high concentrations of hydroxyl radicals in the lower atmosphere. Hydroxyl is the primary atmospheric oxidant, and it was conventional wisdom that large forest emissions of hydrocarbons strongly reduce the atmospheric oxidation capacity. The new data suggest that this is not the case, and that the pristine forest can 'manage' its atmospheric sustainability remarkably well. A possible mechanism is suggested: hydroxyl radicals may be recycling via the natural oxidation of volatile organic compounds, mainly isoprene. In the absence of external influences, the forest seems able to maintain a benign atmosphere. But where deforestation and anthropogenic emissions of NO intervene, photochemical air pollution remains likely.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Lelieveld & T. M. Butler & J. N. Crowley & T. J. Dillon & H. Fischer & L. Ganzeveld & H. Harder & M. G. Lawrence & M. Martinez & D. Taraborrelli & J. Williams, 2008. "Atmospheric oxidation capacity sustained by a tropical forest," Nature, Nature, vol. 452(7188), pages 737-740, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:452:y:2008:i:7188:d:10.1038_nature06870
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06870
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    Cited by:

    1. Chunxiang Ye & Xianliang Zhou & Yingjie Zhang & Youfeng Wang & Jianshu Wang & Chong Zhang & Robert Woodward-Massey & Christopher Cantrell & Roy L. Mauldin & Teresa Campos & Rebecca S. Hornbrook & John, 2023. "Synthesizing evidence for the external cycling of NOx in high- to low-NOx atmospheres," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Xinping Yang & Haichao Wang & Keding Lu & Xuefei Ma & Zhaofeng Tan & Bo Long & Xiaorui Chen & Chunmeng Li & Tianyu Zhai & Yang Li & Kun Qu & Yu Xia & Yuqiong Zhang & Xin Li & Shiyi Chen & Huabin Dong , 2024. "Reactive aldehyde chemistry explains the missing source of hydroxyl radicals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Zhiyu Han & Yisheng Zhang & Houyong Zhang & Xuan Ge & Dasa Gu & Xiaohuan Liu & Jianhui Bai & Zizhen Ma & Yan Tan & Feng Zhu & Shiyong Xia & Jinhua Du & Yuran Tan & Xiao Shu & Jingchao Tang & Yingjie S, 2022. "Impacts of Drought and Rehydration Cycles on Isoprene Emissions in Populus nigra Seedlings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, November.
    4. Xinping Yang, 2023. "A Review of the Direct Measurement of Total OH Reactivity: Ambient Air and Vehicular Emission," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, November.

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