Gas-phase tropospheric chemistry of biogenic volatile organic compounds: A review

Abstract

Large quantities of non-methane organic compounds are emitted into the atmosphere from biogenic sources, mainly from vegetation. These organic compounds include isoprene, C10H16 monoterpenes, C 15H24 sesquiterpenes, and a number of oxygenated compounds including methanol, hexene derivatives, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. In the troposphere these organic compounds react with hydroxyl (OH) radicals, nitrate (NO3) radicals and ozone (O 3), and play an important role in the chemistry of the lower troposphere. In this article the kinetics, products and mechanisms of the tropospheric reactions of biogenic organic compounds are presented and briefly discussed. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.