Field studies on the tropospheric degradation mechanisms of biogenic VOC's Isoprene and DMS

Objective

To study by field experiments the chemical behaviour of two important natural VOCs: isoprene in continental regions and DMS in maritime areas.


The photochemistry of short lived substances emitted in the lower troposphere cannot be described by simple schemes. Highly reactive volatile organic compounds (VOC's) are rapidly oxidized in the boundary layer. These substances not only react with hydroxyl radicals, but also with nitrate radicals and have probably an important role as precursors of peroxy radicals which in turn influence the photochemical budget of hydroxyls and ozone. In this concern, and due to their high emission rates, the importance of dimethylsulfide (DMS) produced by the ocean surface and isoprene produced by vegetation in forested areas is a major fate of the photochemical budget of the lower atmosphere. The degradation mechanisms and kinetics of oxidation of isoprene and DMS are not well known, particularly, the interactions of the compounds and their secondary products with O3, HOX, and NOX. This will be validated through laboratory experiments (see companion project LABVOC), but also validated in the field near strong surface sources, under low NOX and high NOX conditions, and under the influence of variable photochemical conditions with a particular emphasis on the difference between daytime and night time chemistry. Particularly, the hydroxyl and peroxy radicals budget will take into account the reaction of peroxy and nitrate radicals. Field experiments will be done for the study of DMS degradation on a coastal site "Pointe de Penmarc'h" located in western Britanny (France). This site has been proved to be an almost ideal site for the measurements of DMS photochemical degradation under these various influences. Isoprene degradation will be studied on a eucalyptus forest site.

Intensive field experiments in 1993 and 1994 will include the measurements of primary substances and their degradation products (sulfur dioxide, methane sulfonic acid, sulfate aerosols, organic acids, aldehydes) at different levels, the monitoring of background concentrations of the species involved in the photochemical system (NOX, O3, CH4, CO) and the determination of free radicals (RO2, HO2, NO3,). These data will be connected to radiative parameters (photolysis frequency of NO2 and NO3), meteorological and micrometeorological measurements in order to assess the fluxes, lifetimes and the reaction pathways of primary and secondary substances in the lower troposphere.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › chemical sciences › organic chemistry › aldehydes
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › organic chemistry › organic acids
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › organic chemistry › volatile organic compounds
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › electrochemistry › electrolysis
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › atmospheric sciences › meteorology › troposphere

Programme(s)

• FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• 0105 - Tropospheric physics and chemistry

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Address

Avenue De La Terrasse
91198 Gif-sur-yvette
France

Participants (6)

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

France

Address

2 Place De Jussieu
75251 Paris

MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V.

Germany

Address

Johann Joachim-becher-weg 27
55020 Mainz

RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERG

Germany

Address

Im Neuenheimer Feld 229
69117 Heidelberg

UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO

Portugal

Address

Campus De Santiago
3810-193 Aveiro/eixo

UNIVERSITY OF LANCASTER

United Kingdom

Address

Bailrigg
LA1 4YQ Lancaster /High Bantham

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

United Kingdom

Address

Woodhouse Lane
LS2 9JT Leeds