CHEMISTRY OF ATMOSPHERIC BIOGENIC HYDROCARBONS

Large quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released by terrestrial vegetation into the atmosphere. As a result of chemical re actions of these biogenic VOCs the concentrations of several climatica lly relevant trace species are significantly affected. There is substa ntial evidence that biogenic hydrocarbons influence, for example, the regional distribution of tropospheric ozone and the formation of organ ic aerosols. The article attempts to elucidate the current state of kn owledge about this particular part of the carbon cycle between biosphe re and atmosphere. Furthermore, still open questions about the influen ce of natural VOCs on chemical and physical processes in the troposphe re are discussed.