Biogenic sources of air pollution.

Abstract

Abstract Volatile organic compounds emitted from a variety of biogenic sources such as plants, soil and microorganisms play an important role in atmospheric chemistry. With the rapidly changing scenarios of land use, land cover, temperature regimes and pollution, significant outcomes can be expected from an increase in such biogenic sources. This chapter is divided into two parts. The first section deals with the role of important biogenic volatile organic compounds in atmospheric chemistry, such as ozone formation and secondary organic aerosol formation, etc. The second section focuses on soil as a contributor of these volatiles. A number of studies have focused on the contribution of various plant species in volatile carbon emission; however, the role of soil has not been discussed in detail. A variety of global change components, such as increased carbon dioxide levels and tropospheric ozone land use, are also discussed.