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Budgets of reactive nitrogen, hydrocarbons, and ozone over the Amazon forest during the wet season

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)
;  [1]
  1. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (USA)

The atmospheric composition over the Amazon forest during the wet season is simulated with a one-dimensional photochemical model for the planetary boundary layer (PBL) extending from the ground to 2,000-m altitude. The model is constrained and evaluated using observations from the ABLE 2B field expedition. Results indicate that only {approx} 20% of NO{sub x} emitted by soils is exported to the atmosphere above the forest canopy. The balance is deposited to vegetation before leaving the canopy layer. The small NO{sub x} flux that escapes from the canopy is nevertheless sufficient to account for the low NO concentrations observed in the PBL. Decomposition of peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN) supplied from aloft provides only a minor source of NO{sub x} in the PBL, although it could provide the major source of NO{sub x} at higher altitudes. Soil emission can account for only a portion of NO{sub y} observed over the forest. Organic nitrates of nonbiogenic origin likely account for the balance of NO{sub y}. Enhancements of CO observed in the PBL cannot be explained by oxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons, and appear to reflect direct emission of CO by the forest ecosystem. Concentrations of O{sub 3} in the PBL are regulated largely by transport from aloft and deposition to the canopy, with little net influence from photochemistry. Ozone is photochemically produced immediately above the forest where NO concentrations are relatively high, but is photochemically consumed in the upper portion of the PBL.

OSTI ID:
6061078
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 95:D10; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English