Open AccessInfluence of increased isoprene emissions on regional ozone modeling
Author(s) -
Pierce Thomas,
Geron Christopher,
Bender Lucille,
Dennis Robin,
Tonnesen Gail,
Guenther Alex
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/98jd01804
Subject(s) - isoprene , ozone , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , nox , volatile organic compound , tropospheric ozone , environmental chemistry , atmospheric chemistry , meteorology , chemistry , geology , geography , organic chemistry , copolymer , combustion , polymer
The role of biogenic hydrocarbons on ozone modeling has been a controversial issue since the 1970s. In recent years, changes in biogenic emission algorithms have resulted in large increases in estimated isoprene emissions. This paper describes a recent algorithm, the second generation of the Biogenic Emissions Inventory System (BEIS2). A sensitivity analysis is performed with the Regional Acid Deposition Model (RADM) to examine how increased isoprene emissions generated with BEIS2 can influence the modeling of elevated ozone concentrations and the response of ozone to changes to volatile organic compound (VOC) and nitrogen oxide (NO x ) emissions across much of eastern North America. Increased isoprene emissions are found to produce a predicted shift in elevated ozone concentrations from VOC sensitivity to NO x sensitivity over many areas of eastern North America. Isoprene concentrations measured near Scotia, Pennsylvania, during the summer of 1988 are compared with RADM estimates of isoprene and provide support for the veracity of the higher isoprene emissions in BEIS2, which are about a factor of 5 higher than BEISl during warm, sunny conditions.