Amazonian biogenic volatile organic compounds under global change.

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric Chemistry
• Ecology
• Climate Science

Background:

• Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are vital at multiple scales, from cellular to atmospheric.
• The Amazonian rainforest is a significant global source of BVOCs, making its study critical for understanding atmospheric processes.
• BVOCs influence regional and global atmospheric chemistry and climate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on Amazonian BVOCs.
• To identify future research priorities concerning BVOC emissions, ecological interactions, atmospheric impacts, and deposition.
• To explore modifications to BVOC dynamics due to climate and land cover changes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing information on Amazonian BVOCs.
• Construction of a feedback loop model illustrating interactions between BVOCs and environmental changes.
• Analysis of satellite observations and model simulation time series.

Main Results:

• A feedback loop model was developed, validated by satellite and model data, showing combined climate change and deforestation effects on BVOC emissions.
• A decreasing trend in isoprene during the wet season, linked to forest biomass loss.
• An increasing sesquiterpene to isoprene ratio during the dry season, indicating temperature stress-induced emissions.

Conclusions:

• Climate change and deforestation create a feedback loop affecting Amazonian BVOC emissions.
• Forest biomass loss and increasing temperatures are altering BVOC profiles, with implications for atmospheric chemistry.
• Future research should focus on these complex interactions to predict atmospheric and climate impacts.