Linking in-canopy chemistry to above-canopy O <sub>3</sub> , BVOCs, and NO <sub> <i>x</i> </sub> gas fluxes in the Amazon rainforest

Abstract. The forest canopy is a distinct chemical and dynamical environment compared to the atmosphere above, characterised by natural emissions, deposition processes, and chemistry that vary with height. However, the role of in-canopy chemistry and its influence on above-canopy concentrations of ozone (O3) and bi-directional exchange of natural compounds are necessarily simplified within large-scale models. Whilst canopy models have been applied to temperate forests, there are few studies in tropical forests. Here, we apply the FORCAsT v2 canopy column model to an Amazonian site. Simulation of the 2015 El Niño shows that biomass burning enhances O3 flux into the canopy, increases oxidation chemistry and elevates O3 deposition to vegetation. Sensitivity tests show sesquiterpenes enhance O3 chemical loss from approximately 3 % of the total in-canopy losses to 10 %–15 %, but only marginally reduce the total canopy O3 flux. Sesquiterpene canopy escape efficiency varies by 45 %–55 % across simulations, controlled by O3 oxidation and vertical turbulence. For other biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), pool-dependent emissions demonstrate greatest variability in escape efficiency with environmental conditions (monoterpenes 84 %–95 %, isoprene 95 %). Average soil NOx escape efficiency (40 %–50 %) is higher than many existing models suggest and exhibits a strong diurnal cycle that drives O3 production, especially in the early morning, which may be important to consider in global atmospheric chemistry models. Overall, we highlight reactive BVOCs by inclusion of sesquiterpene emissions and reactivity as major sources of uncertainty in in-canopy chemistry and emphasise the critical role of turbulence in linking canopy processes to above-canopy atmospheric composition.

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Journal
Atmospheric chemistry and physics
Published
2026-06-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9181-2026
Primary Topic
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Linking in-canopy chemistry to above-canopy O 3 , BVOCs, and NO x gas fluxes in the Amazon rainforest

Hartwig Harder, Cléo Quaresma Dias‐Júnior, J. Kesselmeier, Flossie Brown et al.
Atmospheric chemistry and physics
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
article

Linking in-canopy chemistry to above-canopy O 3 , BVOCs, and NO x gas fluxes in the Amazon rainforest

Hartwig Harder, Cléo Quaresma Dias‐Júnior, J. Kesselmeier, Flossie Brown, Carolina Monteiro, Alessandro Araùjo, Denisi Holanda Hall, Colette L. Heald, Ana Maria Yañez-Serrano, Stefan Wolff, Allison Steiner
article en

Abstract

Abstract. The forest canopy is a distinct chemical and dynamical environment compared to the atmosphere above, characterised by natural emissions, deposition processes, and chemistry that vary with height. However, the role of in-canopy chemistry and its influence on above-canopy concentrations of ozone (O3) and bi-directional exchange of natural compounds are necessarily simplified within large-scale models. Whilst canopy models have been applied to temperate forests, there are few studies in tropical forests. Here, we apply the FORCAsT v2 canopy column model to an Amazonian site. Simulation of the 2015 El Niño shows that biomass burning enhances O3 flux into the canopy, increases oxidation chemistry and elevates O3 deposition to vegetation. Sensitivity tests show sesquiterpenes enhance O3 chemical loss from approximately 3 % of the total in-canopy losses to 10 %–15 %, but only marginally reduce the total canopy O3 flux. Sesquiterpene canopy escape efficiency varies by 45 %–55 % across simulations, controlled by O3 oxidation and vertical turbulence. For other biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), pool-dependent emissions demonstrate greatest variability in escape efficiency with environmental conditions (monoterpenes 84 %–95 %, isoprene 95 %). Average soil NOx escape efficiency (40 %–50 %) is higher than many existing models suggest and exhibits a strong diurnal cycle that drives O3 production, especially in the early morning, which may be important to consider in global atmospheric chemistry models. Overall, we highlight reactive BVOCs by inclusion of sesquiterpene emissions and reactivity as major sources of uncertainty in in-canopy chemistry and emphasise the critical role of turbulence in linking canopy processes to above-canopy atmospheric composition.

Atmospheric chemistry and physicsVol. 26(12)
Deutscher Wetterdienst (DE), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (BR), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (BR), Department of Space (IN), ETH Zurich (CH), Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Pará (BR), Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (DE), Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications (ES), Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (ES)
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
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