Monoterpene and Sesquiterpene Emission Estimates for the United States

Abstract

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) contribute significantly to the formation of ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGANv2.02) is used to estimate emissions of isoprene, monoterpenes (MT), and sesquiterpenes (SQT) across the United States. Compared to the Biogenic Emission Inventory System (BEIS3.0), MEGANv2.02 estimates higher isoprene but lower MT emissions for July 2001 and January 2002. A sensitivity study of SQT and MT emission factors and algorithm parameters was conducted by assigning values to four plant functional types (PFTs) using both recent measurements and literature values. The standard deviations of the emissions factors within these PFTs were two to four times the averages because of the variation in experimental basal emissions rate data. More recently published SQT and MT basal emission rates are generally lower than those reported in the literature through 2004. With the new emissions factors, monthly average SQT emission rates for the contiguous United States are equal to 16% of the MT emissions during July and 9% of the emissions during January. The SQT emissions distribution is strongly influenced by the grass and crop PFT, for which SQT emissions data are quite limited.