Leaf Senescence and Frost Damage--New Sources of Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

University Of Colorado At Boulder, Boulder CO

Investigators

Abstract

This project will support measurements of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from plants under conditions of leaf senescence and frost damage. Compounds include hexenals, hexanal, pentenols, and other C5 and C6 VOCs. The field measurements will be carried out at the PROPOHET (Program for Research on Oxidants: Photochemistry, Emissions, and Transport) site in Michigan during the fall. Ancillary measurements will be available to determine air mass origin etc. These measurements will be carried out using on-line proton transfer reaction/mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and adsorbent cartridges and GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry), in collaboration with NCAR. A recently developed relaxed eddy accumulator (REA) cartridge sampler will be used for flux measurements. This work will enhance our understanding of the contribution to tropospheric photochemistry and air quality of organic compounds emitted from plants.