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Non methane hydrocarbons chemistry in the atmosphere of an equatorial forest: A case of indirect photochemical production of OH radicals
Author(s) -
Bonsang B.,
Kanakidou M.,
Lambert G.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl014i012p01250
Subject(s) - radical , methane , atmosphere (unit) , chemistry , atmospheric chemistry , environmental chemistry , photochemistry , carbon fibers , atmospheric sciences , ozone , meteorology , materials science , geology , organic chemistry , physics , composite number , composite material
An experiment was conducted in the Guyana forest in March 1985, during which C 2 ‐ C 6 non methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) were measured in the air, together with CO 2 and its associated 13 C isotopic composition. Owing to the very high atmospheric stability, strong vertical concentration gradients were observed close to the soil surface. Simple assumptions allow showing that NMHC are mainly destroyed by OH radicals whose concentration seems to be surprisingly high, around 1×10 7 radicals cm −3 . An indirect photochemical production of these radicals is proposed. On the other hand, the fluxes of the different NMHC emitted from the litter were found to be small, in the range of 10 −7 to 10 −6 g of carbon per hour and per m².