Article: Studying the influence of biogenic emissions on AOT40 levels in Europe Journal: International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP) 2004 Vol.22 No.1/2 pp.29 - 42 Abstract: It is well known that the uncertainties in determination of biogenic emissions are very large (some authors claim that these emissions are underestimated in certain areas of the world by up to ten times). On the other hand, anthropogenic emissions in some areas of the world have been reduced very considerably during the last two decades (this is especially true for Europe). This fact shows clearly that the importance of biogenic emissions is increasing, because the ratio of biogenic emissions to total emissions, where the total emissions are equal to the sum of biogenic and anthropogenic emissions, is increasing. It is, therefore, necessary to study carefully the sensitivity of pollution levels to variations of biogenic emissions. A long series of runs with different scenarios, in which both biogenic and anthropogenic emissions were varied, has been performed. The influence of both types of emission on AOT40 values, which have damaging effects on corns when certain critical values are exceeded, was studied. The results show clearly that biogenic emissions must also be taken into account when control strategies are developed for reducing anthropogenic emissions in order either to reduce some high pollution levels to prescribed critical levels or to keep them below the critical levels. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Studying the influence of biogenic emissions on AOT40 levels in Europe

Authors: Gerald Geernaert, Zahari Zlatev

Addresses: Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS C-305, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA. ' National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Atmospheric Environment, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Abstract: It is well known that the uncertainties in determination of biogenic emissions are very large (some authors claim that these emissions are underestimated in certain areas of the world by up to ten times). On the other hand, anthropogenic emissions in some areas of the world have been reduced very considerably during the last two decades (this is especially true for Europe). This fact shows clearly that the importance of biogenic emissions is increasing, because the ratio of biogenic emissions to total emissions, where the total emissions are equal to the sum of biogenic and anthropogenic emissions, is increasing. It is, therefore, necessary to study carefully the sensitivity of pollution levels to variations of biogenic emissions. A long series of runs with different scenarios, in which both biogenic and anthropogenic emissions were varied, has been performed. The influence of both types of emission on AOT40 values, which have damaging effects on corns when certain critical values are exceeded, was studied. The results show clearly that biogenic emissions must also be taken into account when control strategies are developed for reducing anthropogenic emissions in order either to reduce some high pollution levels to prescribed critical levels or to keep them below the critical levels.

Keywords: air pollution models; AOT40 values; biogenic emissions; ozone levels; scenarios; volatile organic compounds; VOCs; anthropogenic emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2004.005485

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2004 Vol.22 No.1/2, pp.29 - 42

Published online: 12 Oct 2004 *

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Title: Studying the influence of biogenic emissions on AOT40 levels in Europe

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