Emission of formic and acetic acids from tropical Savanna soils

Abstract

Fluxes of formic (HCOOH) and acetic (CH3COOH) acids between soils and the atmosphere were measured in a scrub‐grass savanna and a semideciduous forest of Venezuela. High emissions of both acids were observed from savanna soils during daytime, with a daily contribution to the atmospheric boundary layer of about 0.15 ppb HCOOH and 0.07 ppb CH3COOH. Soil watering, simulating rainfall, produces a significant increase in CH3COOH emissions. Forest soils consumed these acids, with deposition velocities of 0.21 and 0.16 cm s−1. Savanna soils appear to be a significant source of HCOOH and CH3COOH to the tropical savanna atmosphere. Copyright 1991 by the American Geophysical Union.