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Emission of biogenic VOCs from trees in the Lower Fraser Valley, B.C.

Conference ·
OSTI ID:466077
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada)
  2. Univ. of Guelph, Ontario (Canada)

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC`s) are known to participate in the formation of ground level ozone. It is possible that in the areas with high emission rates from local vegetation, biogenic hydrocarbons can be of comparable importance to anthropogenic hydrocarbons in the production of this secondary air pollutant. In order to implement an effective abatement strategy, the relative importance of these biogenic emissions to the atmospheric chemistry of an area must be known. The Lower Fraser Valley located in the southwestern corner of British Columbia experiences episodes of elevated ground level ozone concentrations during the summer under the influence of a stationary high pressure system and characterized by lush coastal rain forest vegetation and extensive agriculture surfaces. During the summer of 1995 a field campaign to determine the emission rate from natural sources in the region was conducted. The emission rate from natural sources in the region was conducted. The mission rate of biogenic hydrocarbons from four tree species, Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata), Cottonwood (Populus Balsemifera), Douglass Fir (Pseudotsuga Menziesii) and Hemlock (Tsuga Heterophylla) was measured in the field. It was found that Cottonwood trees emit isoprene at a rate approaching 100 times greater than any of the other three species.

OSTI ID:
466077
Report Number(s):
CONF-9606185--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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