THE OBSERVATION OF A C5 ALCOHOL EMISSION IN A NORTH-AMERICAN PINE FOREST

During a recent study carried out at an isolated site in the Colorado mountains, a C5 alcohol, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, was found to be the mo st abundant volatile organic compound of biogenic origin present in th e atmosphere. This finding, if generally characteristic of the natural chemical species present in the atmosphere in forested areas, has imp ortant implications. First, the presence in large quantities of a reac tive chemical compound at these high levels can significantly influenc e the local atmospheric chemistry. Secondly, this compound, although p reviously identified as a pheromone for Ips typographus (spruce bark b eetle), an insect predator responsible for major forest die-backs in t his region, is strongly correlated with isoprene. Since isoprene is kn own to be emitted by the local vegetation, the observed 2-methyl-3-but en-2-ol appears also to have a vegetative rather than entomological so urce.