Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound Emissions and Air Quality
Summary
Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are a diverse suite of carbon-based gases emitted by vegetation, including isoprene, monoterpenes and oxygenated VOCs. They play a pivotal role in atmospheric chemistry by reacting with hydroxyl radicals and nitrogen oxides to form ground-level ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA), key constituents of photochemical smog and fine particulate matter. BVOC emissions are strongly modulated by environmental drivers such as temperature, solar radiation, leaf area index and moisture stress. Land cover change and urban greening alter the spatial distribution and magnitude of BVOCs, with implications for regional air quality. In forested and rural regions, BVOCs can both exacerbate ozone episodes under high-NOx conditions and promote aerosol formation that may enhance particle scattering and influence climate. In urban settings, the interplay between anthropogenic emissions and BVOCs can lead to non-linear ozone responses, especially during heatwaves. As global warming and afforestation trends continue, understanding BVOC dynamics is essential for designing effective air quality management strategies that balance the benefits of vegetation with its contribution to ozone and particulate pollution.
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Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound Emissions and Air Quality publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biogenic volatile organic compound emissions and air quality across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs): carbon-based gases emitted by plants that react in the atmosphere to form ozone and secondary organic aerosol.
Leaf Area Index (LAI): the ratio of total leaf surface area to ground area, used to characterise canopy density and drive emission models.
Ozone (O₃): a secondary pollutant produced by photochemical reactions of VOCs and nitrogen oxides, harmful to respiratory health and vegetation.
Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA): fine particulate matter formed through atmospheric oxidation of VOC precursors, contributing to haze and climate forcing.
References
- Impacts of land cover changes on biogenic emission and its contribution to ozone and secondary organic aerosol in China. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2023).
- Enhanced summertime ozone and SOA from biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions due to vegetation biomass variability during 1981–2018 in China. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2022).
- Effect of VOC Emissions from Vegetation on Air Quality in Berlin during a Heatwave. Environmental Science and Technology (2017).
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