Article: Measurements of air–surface exchange rates of volatile organic compounds Journal: International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP) 2004 Vol.22 No.5 pp.547 - 562 Abstract: Vertical gradients of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured over a maize field and a soybean field in 1995 and 1996, respectively, in the Lower Coastal Plains of North Carolina. The measurements over the maize field were conducted in its early growth period, during May 1995, and the measurements over the soybean field were conducted in its middle and later growth periods during July through August 1996 at the same location. These measurements were combined with micrometeorological flux measurements to determine emission flux measurements for various VOCs. This measurement programme was part of project NOVA (Natural emissions of Oxidant precursors: Validation of techniques and Assessment) to estimate the flux of VOCs. Methanol was identified as the major biogenic compound for both years with the average flux of 3450 ± 1456 µg/m²/hr over maize and 3079 ± 2766 µg/m²/hr over soybean. Acetone is another compound that was identified as a biogenic compound for both years with the average flux of 425 ± 223 µg/m²/hr over maize and 2701 ± 1710 µg/m²/hr over soybean. In addition to biogenic compounds, a large number of aromatic compounds, including styrene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, were also identified as emissions from the ground over the soybean field. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Measurements of air–surface exchange rates of volatile organic compounds

Authors: Daiwen Kang, Viney Aneja, Mita Das, Robert Seila

Addresses: Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8208, USA. ' Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8208, USA. ' Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8208, USA. ' US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA

Abstract: Vertical gradients of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured over a maize field and a soybean field in 1995 and 1996, respectively, in the Lower Coastal Plains of North Carolina. The measurements over the maize field were conducted in its early growth period, during May 1995, and the measurements over the soybean field were conducted in its middle and later growth periods during July through August 1996 at the same location. These measurements were combined with micrometeorological flux measurements to determine emission flux measurements for various VOCs. This measurement programme was part of project NOVA (Natural emissions of Oxidant precursors: Validation of techniques and Assessment) to estimate the flux of VOCs. Methanol was identified as the major biogenic compound for both years with the average flux of 3450 ± 1456 µg/m²/hr over maize and 3079 ± 2766 µg/m²/hr over soybean. Acetone is another compound that was identified as a biogenic compound for both years with the average flux of 425 ± 223 µg/m²/hr over maize and 2701 ± 1710 µg/m²/hr over soybean. In addition to biogenic compounds, a large number of aromatic compounds, including styrene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, were also identified as emissions from the ground over the soybean field.

Keywords: volatile organic compounds; air–surface exchange; biogenic VOCs; hydrocarbons; maize; soybean; VOCs; VOC fluxes; micrometeorological flux measurements; emission flux measurements; natural hydrocarbon emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2004.005909

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2004 Vol.22 No.5, pp.547 - 562

Published online: 27 Dec 2004 *

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Title: Measurements of air–surface exchange rates of volatile organic compounds

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