Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound Emissions in Atmospheric Chemistry

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are a diverse suite of reactive gases emitted by terrestrial ecosystems, including forests, grasslands and soils. Predominant BVOCs such as isoprene, monoterpenes and benzenoid compounds play central roles in tropospheric chemistry by influencing ozone formation, secondary organic aerosol (SOA) production and the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere. Emission rates vary with plant species, phenological stage, environmental stressors (for example drought, temperature extremes and elevated CO₂) and microbial activity in soils. On a global scale these emissions constitute a major natural source of reactive carbon, interacting with anthropogenic pollutants to shape air quality and climate feedbacks. Key processes include photochemical oxidation of BVOCs to form ozone and SOA, deposition back to surfaces and exchange with the biosphere. Understanding the balance between BVOC sources and sinks is critical for modelling present-day atmospheric composition and projecting future changes under global warming and land-use change.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have shown that soil systems under extended drought transition from net sinks to net sources of BVOCs, with microbial processes driving enhanced emissions of isoprenoids, carbonyls and alcohols as moisture declines. Upon rewetting, a rapid abiotic burst of carbonyl compounds is followed by a sustained biotic release of sulphur-containing volatiles, revealing complex drought–recovery dynamics that affect regional ozone and aerosol budgets.

Work on plant benzenoid emissions has revealed that leaves, flowers and phytoplankton release a broad spectrum of aromatic compounds under both normal and stress conditions at rates comparable to fossil fuel sources. These benzenoids serve ecological functions such as chemical signalling and stress protection, yet they also contribute substantially to SOA formation, underscoring their importance in atmospheric chemistry and climate modelling.

Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound Emissions in Atmospheric Chemistry publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in biogenic volatile organic compound emissions in atmospheric chemistry across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs): Reactive carbon-containing gases emitted by living organisms, notably plants and soil microbes, that influence atmospheric chemistry.

Isoprene: A simple five-carbon hydrocarbon emitted in large quantities by many trees; it contributes to ozone formation and aerosol precursors.

Monoterpenes: Ten-carbon VOCs, including α-pinene and limonene, emitted by vegetation; key precursors to secondary organic aerosol.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA): Particulate matter formed in the atmosphere through oxidation of VOCs, affecting air quality, cloud formation and climate.

MEP pathway: The methylerythritol phosphate metabolic route in chloroplasts responsible for synthesis of isoprene and other terpenoids in plants.

References

1. Effects of drought and recovery on soil volatile organic compound fluxes in an experimental rainforest. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Atmospheric benzenoid emissions from plants rival those from fossil fuels. Scientific Reports (2015).
3. Soil uptake of VOCs exceeds production when VOCs are readily available. Soil Biology and Biochemistry (2023).
4. Hydroxymethylbutenyl diphosphate accumulation reveals MEP pathway regulation for high CO2-induced suppression of isoprene emission. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2023).