Emissions and ambient air concentrations of isoprene, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes at a Northern wetland

Author(s):  
Heidi Hellén ◽  
Simon Schallhart ◽  
Arnaud P. Praplan ◽  
Toni Tykkä ◽  
Mika Aurela ◽  
...  

<p>Wetlands cover an area of about 2% of the total land surface area of the world and are most common in the boreal and tundra zones. Northern wetlands are important sinks for carbon dioxide and sources of methane, but knowledge on their VOC emissions is very limited. Currently, we know that northern wetlands are high isoprene emitters (e.g. Holst et al., 2010), but very little is known on the emissions of other VOCs.</p><p>We have studied VOC emissions and their ambient concentrations at a sub-Arctic wetland (Lompolojänkkä) in Northern Finland, using an in situ TD-GC-MS. For the emission measurements, a dynamic flow-through FEP chamber was used.</p><p>Earlier studies have shown that isoprene is emitted from wetlands and it turned out to be the most abundant compound in the current study also. Monoterpene (MT) emissions were generally less than 10 % of the isoprene emissions, but sesquiterpenes (SQT) emissions were surprisingly high, exceeding MT emissions at all times. Both MT and SQT emissions were dependent on temperature.</p><p>Even with the higher emissions from the wetland, ambient air concentrations of isoprene were clearly lower than MT concentrations. This indicates that wetland was not the only source affecting atmospheric concentrations at the site, but surrounding coniferous forests, which are high MT emitters, contribute as well. In May concentrations of SQTs and MTs at Lompolojänkkä were higher than in earlier boreal forest measurements in southern Finland (Hellén et al., 2018). At that time, the snow cover on the ground was melting and soil thawing and VOCs produced under the snow cover, e.g. by microbes and decaying litter, can be released to the air. Daily mean MT concentrations were very highly negatively correlated with daily mean ozone concentrations indicating that vegetation emissions can be a significant chemical sink of ozone at this sub-Arctic area.</p><p>References</p><p>Hellén, H.et al. 2018, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 13839-13863, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-13839-2018.</p><p>Holst, T., et al. 2010, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 1617-1634, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-1617-2010.</p>

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Hellén ◽  
Simon Schallhart ◽  
Arnaud P. Praplan ◽  
Toni Tykkä ◽  
Mika Aurela ◽  
...  

Abstract. We have studied biogenic VOC emissions and their ambient concentrations at a sub-Arctic wetland (Lompolojänkkä, Finland), which is an open, nutrient-rich sedge fen, and a part of the Pallas-Sodankylä Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) station. Measurements were conducted during the growing season in 2018 using an in situ thermal desorption – gas chromatograph – mass spectrometer (TD-GC-MS). Earlier studies have shown that isoprene is emitted from boreal wetlands and it turned out to be the most abundant compound in the current study also. Monoterpene (MT) emissions were generally less than 10 % of the isoprene emissions, but sesquiterpenes (SQT) emissions were surprisingly high exceeding MT emissions all the time. During early growing season SQT emission rates were about ten times higher than MT emission rates but this difference became smaller as summer proceeded. Isoprene, MT and SQT emissions were dependent on temperature. Isoprene emission rates were also found to be well-correlated with the gross primary production of CO2. Even with the higher emissions from the wetland, ambient air concentrations of isoprene were clearly lower than MT concentrations. This indicates that wetland was not the only source affecting atmospheric concentrations at the site, but surrounding coniferous forests, which are high MT emitters, contribute as well. In May concentrations of SQTs and MTs at Lompolojänkkä were higher than in earlier boreal forest measurements in southern Finland. At that time the snow cover on the ground was melting and soil thawing and VOCs produced under the snow cover, e.g. by microbes and decaying litter, can be released to the air. Daily mean MT concentrations were very highly negatively correlated with daily mean ozone concentrations indicating that vegetation emissions can be a significant chemical sink of ozone at this sub-Arctic area.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 7021-7034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Hellén ◽  
Simon Schallhart ◽  
Arnaud P. Praplan ◽  
Toni Tykkä ◽  
Mika Aurela ◽  
...  

Abstract. We have studied biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions and their ambient concentrations at a sub-Arctic wetland (Lompolojänkkä, Finland), which is an open, nutrient-rich sedge fen and a part of the Pallas-Sodankylä Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) station. Measurements were conducted during the growing season in 2018 using an in situ thermal-desorption–gas-chromatograph–mass-spectrometer (TD-GC-MS). Earlier studies have shown that isoprene is emitted from boreal wetlands, and it also turned out to be the most abundant compound in the current study. Monoterpene (MT) emissions were generally less than 10 % of the isoprene emissions (mean isoprene emission over the growing season, 44 µg m−2 h−1), but sesquiterpene (SQT) emissions were higher than MT emissions all the time. The main MTs emitted were α-pinene, 1,8-cineol, myrcene, limonene and 3Δ-carene. Of SQTs cadinene, β-cadinene and α-farnesene had the major contribution. During early growing season the SQT∕MT emission rate ratio was ∼10, but it became smaller as summer proceeded, being only ∼3 in July. Isoprene, MT and SQT emissions were exponentially dependent on temperature (correlation coefficients (R2) 0.75, 0.66 and 0.52, respectively). Isoprene emission rates were also found to be exponentially correlated with the gross primary production of CO2 (R2=0.85 in July). Even with the higher emissions from the wetland, ambient air concentrations of isoprene were on average > 100, > 10 and > 6 times lower than MT concentrations in May, June and July, respectively. This indicates that wetland was not the only source affecting atmospheric concentrations at the site, but surrounding coniferous forests, which are high MT emitters, contribute as well. Daily mean MT concentrations had high negative exponential correlation (R2=0.96) with daily mean ozone concentrations indicating that vegetation emissions can be a significant chemical sink of ozone in this sub-Arctic area.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Rute Cesário ◽  
Nelson J. O’Driscoll ◽  
Sara Justino ◽  
Claire E. Wilson ◽  
Carlos E. Monteiro ◽  
...  

In situ air concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg(0)) and vegetation–atmosphere fluxes were quantified in both high (Cala Norte, CN) and low-to-moderate (Alcochete, ALC) Hg-contaminated saltmarsh areas of the Tagus estuary colonized by plant species Halimione portulacoides (Hp) and Sarcocornia fruticosa (Sf). Atmospheric Hg(0) ranged between 1.08–18.15 ng m−3 in CN and 1.18–3.53 ng m−3 in ALC. In CN, most of the high Hg(0) levels occurred during nighttime, while the opposite was observed at ALC, suggesting that photoreduction was not driving the air Hg(0) concentrations at the contaminated site. Vegetation–air Hg(0) fluxes were low in ALC and ranged from −0.76 to 1.52 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Hp and from −0.40 to 1.28 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Sf. In CN, higher Hg fluxes were observed for both plants, ranging from −9.90 to 15.45 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Hp and from −8.93 to 12.58 ng m−2 (leaf area) h−1 for Sf. Mercury flux results at CN were considered less reliable due to large and fast variations in the ambient air concentrations of Hg(0), which may have been influenced by emissions from the nearby chlor-alkali plant, or historical contamination. Improved experimental setup, the influence of high local Hg concentrations and the seasonal activity of the plants must be considered when assessing vegetation–air Hg(0) fluxes in Hg-contaminated areas.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 655
Author(s):  
Animesh Choudhury ◽  
Avinash Chand Yadav ◽  
Stefania Bonafoni

The Himalayan region is one of the most crucial mountain systems across the globe, which has significant importance in terms of the largest depository of snow and glaciers for fresh water supply, river runoff, hydropower, rich biodiversity, climate, and many more socioeconomic developments. This region directly or indirectly affects millions of lives and their livelihoods but has been considered one of the most climatically sensitive parts of the world. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variation in maximum extent of snow cover area (SCA) and its response to temperature, precipitation, and elevation over the northwest Himalaya (NWH) during 2000–2019. The analysis uses Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Terra 8-day composite snow Cover product (MOD10A2), MODIS/Terra/V6 daily land surface temperature product (MOD11A1), Climate Hazards Infrared Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) precipitation product, and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM product for the investigation. Modified Mann-Kendall (mMK) test and Spearman’s correlation methods were employed to examine the trends and the interrelationships between SCA and climatic parameters. Results indicate a significant increasing trend in annual mean SCA (663.88 km2/year) between 2000 and 2019. The seasonal and monthly analyses were also carried out for the study region. The Zone-wise analysis showed that the lower Himalaya (184.5 km2/year) and the middle Himalaya (232.1 km2/year) revealed significant increasing mean annual SCA trends. In contrast, the upper Himalaya showed no trend during the study period over the NWH region. Statistically significant negative correlation (−0.81) was observed between annual SCA and temperature, whereas a nonsignificant positive correlation (0.47) existed between annual SCA and precipitation in the past 20 years. It was also noticed that the SCA variability over the past 20 years has mainly been driven by temperature, whereas the influence of precipitation has been limited. A decline in average annual temperature (−0.039 °C/year) and a rise in precipitation (24.56 mm/year) was detected over the region. The results indicate that climate plays a vital role in controlling the SCA over the NWH region. The maximum and minimum snow cover frequency (SCF) was observed during the winter (74.42%) and monsoon (46.01%) season, respectively, while the average SCF was recorded to be 59.11% during the study period. Of the SCA, 54.81% had a SCF above 60% and could be considered as the perennial snow. The elevation-based analysis showed that 84% of the upper Himalaya (UH) experienced perennial snow, while the seasonal snow mostly dominated over the lower Himalaya (LH) and the middle Himalaya (MH).


2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (NA) ◽  
pp. 87-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Błaś ◽  
Katarzyna Cichała-Kamrowska ◽  
Mieczysław Sobik ◽  
Żaneta Polkowska ◽  
Jacek Namieśnik

Solid precipitation represents a potentially important addition to other measures of deposition. However, an accurate estimate of snowfall amount and pollutant loading is not a trivial matter. There are obvious distinctions between regular precipitation collection and snowpack sampling that represent the cumulative chemistry of bulk deposition. The main goal is to show the most important processes and factors that may influence the rate and magnitude of pollutants deposition affected by the snowfall and snow cover: atmospheric pollutant enhancement of snowfall, pollutants deposition at snow cover surface, drifting and blowing snow, formation of the snow cover and its internal changes, as well as pollutants flow through the snowpack. These phenomena lead to continuous changes in the chemistry of the snow cover and the deposition calculated on the basis of pollutants concentrations in daily portions of atmospheric precipitation. The real deposition released from snowpack is strictly related to the number and depth of thaw episodes. If the amount of stored pollutants is large, first portions of ablation water flushing from the snowpack can carry the load of pollutants, and potentially affecting the environment in a detrimental way. Igneous bedrock is especially sensitive to acidic ions because of its low buffering capacity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1879-1893 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Atlaskina ◽  
F. Berninger ◽  
G. de Leeuw

Abstract. Thirteen years of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) surface albedo data for the Northern Hemisphere during the spring months (March–May) were analyzed to determine temporal and spatial changes over snow-covered land surfaces. Tendencies in land surface albedo change north of 50° N were analyzed using data on snow cover fraction, air temperature, vegetation index and precipitation. To this end, the study domain was divided into six smaller areas, based on their geographical position and climate similarity. Strong differences were observed between these areas. As expected, snow cover fraction (SCF) has a strong influence on the albedo in the study area and can explain 56 % of variation of albedo in March, 76 % in April and 92 % in May. Therefore the effects of other parameters were investigated only for areas with 100 % SCF. The second largest driver for snow-covered land surface albedo changes is the air temperature when it exceeds a value between −15 and −10 °C, depending on the region. At monthly mean air temperatures below this value no albedo changes are observed. The Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and precipitation amount and frequency were independently examined as possible candidates to explain observed changes in albedo for areas with 100 % SCF. Amount and frequency of precipitation were identified to influence the albedo over some areas in Eurasia and North America, but no clear effects were observed in other areas. EVI is positively correlated with albedo in Chukotka Peninsula and negatively in eastern Siberia. For other regions the spatial variability of the correlation fields is too high to reach any conclusions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Ruggieri ◽  
Marianna Benassi ◽  
Stefano Materia ◽  
Daniele Peano ◽  
Constantin Ardilouze ◽  
...  

<p>Seasonal climate predictions leverage on many predictable or persistent components of the Earth system that can modify the state of the atmosphere and of relant weather related variable such as temprature and precipitation. With a dominant role of the ocean, the land surface provides predictability through various mechanisms, including snow cover, with particular reference to Autumn snow cover over the Eurasian continent. The snow cover alters the energy exchange between land surface and atmosphere and induces a diabatic cooling that in turn can affect the atmosphere both locally and remotely. Lagged relationships between snow cover in Eurasia and atmospheric modes of variability in the Northern Hemisphere have been investigated and documented but are deemed to be non-stationary and climate models typically do not reproduce observed relationships with consensus. The role of Autumn Eurasian snow in recent dynamical seasonal forecasts is therefore unclear. In this study we assess the role of Eurasian snow cover in a set of 5 operational seasonal forecast system characterized by a large ensemble size and a high atmospheric and oceanic resolution. Results are compemented with a set of targeted idealised simulations with atmospheric general circulation models forced by different snow cover conditions. Forecast systems reproduce realistically regional changes of the surface energy balance associated with snow cover variability. Retrospective forecasts and idealised sensitivity experiments converge in identifying a coherent change of the circulation in the Northern Hemisphere. This is compatible with a lagged but fast feedback from the snow to the Arctic Oscillation trough a tropospheric pathway.</p>


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