The goal of this project is to apply quantitative techniques to measure emissions of sesquiterpenes from trees and agricultural plants. Sesquiterpenes are biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) that are chemically reactive and have low volatility. Their oxidation products are considered responsible for a significant fraction of the secondary organic aerosols (SOAs), especially over forested regions. A systematic investigation of speciated and total sesquiterpene emission factors will be conducted. Vegetation will be surveyed by environmentally controlled enclosure experiments (leaf cuvette and branch enclosure). Emission samples will be collected on inorganic solid adsorbents and sesquiterpenes will be identified and quantified in the field by thermal desorption/gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection.

The broader impacts of this project will include close collaboration between research groups at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Institute of Alpine and Arctic Research at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the construction of a field instrument for on-site identification and quantification of sesquiterpene fluxes, support for a graduate student and undergraduate students, and various outreach activities.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
0304704
Program Officer
Anne-Marie Schmoltner
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2003-07-15
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$229,213
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Colorado at Boulder
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Boulder
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80309