Current estimates of biogenic emissions from eucalypts uncertain for  southeast Australia

Emmerson, Kathryn M.; Galbally, Ian E.; Guenther, Alex; Paton-Walsh, Clare; Guérette, Élise-Andrée; Cope, Martin; Keywood, Melita; Lawson, Sarah; Molloy, Suzie; Dunne, Erin; Thatcher, Marcus; Karl, T.; Maleknia, Simin D.

doi:10.5194/acp-16-6997-2016

Cited by 49 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…The C-CTM is set up using two biogenic emission configurations; ABCGEM described in this paper, and MEGAN (Guenther et al, 2012) the set-up of which is described in Emmerson et al (2016). The chemistry scheme and meteorological inputs are the same for both configurations, removing both as factors in possible model differences.…”

Section: The Csiro Chemical Transport Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…MEGAN version 2.1 (Guenther et al, 2006(Guenther et al, , 2012 is coupled to the C-CTM as an option for calculating 147 BVOC emission rates (Emmerson et al, 2016). The vegetation classes used in MEGAN are embedded within plant functional types and emission factor maps as described in Emmerson et al (2016).…”

Section: Megan Model Setupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However recent work by Emmerson et al (2016) demonstrated considerable discrepancies using MEGAN when compared to atmospheric observations over south-eastern Australia. Emmerson et al (2016) postulated that the discrepancies were due to unrepresentative emission factors, the majority coming from studies both in Australia and overseas on eucalypt saplings under laboratory conditions. The VOC emissions from Australian vegetation may be different in magnitude and behaviour from those studied in the northern temperate regions and in the tropics because Australian vegetation was isolated from other regions for many tens of millions of years and, in general, adapted to infertile deeply weathered ancient soils and a regime of intense fires (Orians and Milewski, 2007), factors that could affect the evolutionary biology of plant VOC emissions (Fernández-Martínez et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The change was made to improve sensitivity and reduce potential interferences. Three of the campaigns were documented in Emmerson et al (2016) (Cope et al, 2014). The Westmead site is located next to a grass playing field within hospital grounds, with a line of trees to the west and south, separating the site from trains, roads and housing beyond.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Isoprene and monoterpene emissions in south-east Australia: comparison of a multi-layer canopy model with MEGAN and with atmospheric observations

et al. 2018

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Abstract. One of the key challenges in atmospheric chemistry is to reduce the uncertainty of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emission estimates from vegetation to the atmosphere. In Australia, eucalypt trees are a primary source of biogenic emissions, but their contribution to Australian air sheds is poorly quantified. The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN) has performed poorly against Australian isoprene and monoterpene observations. Finding reasons for the MEGAN discrepancies and strengthening our understanding of biogenic emissions in this region is our focus. We compare MEGAN to the locally produced Australian Biogenic Canopy and Grass Emissions Model (ABCGEM), to identify the uncertainties associated with the emission estimates and the data requirements necessary to improve isoprene and monoterpene emissions estimates for the application of MEGAN in Australia. Previously unpublished, ABCGEM is applied as an online biogenic emissions inventory to model BVOCs in the air shed overlaying Sydney, Australia. The two models use the same meteorological inputs and chemical mechanism, but independent inputs of leaf area index (LAI), plant functional type (PFT) and emission factors. We find that LAI, a proxy for leaf biomass, has a small role in spatial, temporal and inter-model biogenic emission variability, particularly in urban areas for ABCGEM. After removing LAI as the source of the differences, we found large differences in the emission activity function for monoterpenes. In MEGAN monoterpenes are partially light dependent, reducing their dependence on temperature. In ABCGEM monoterpenes are not light dependent, meaning they continue to be emitted at high rates during hot summer days, and at night. When the light dependence of monoterpenes is switched off in MEGAN, night-time emissions increase by 90-100 % improving the comparison with observations, suggesting the possibility that monoterpenes emitted from Australian vegetation may not be as light dependent as vegetation globally. Targeted measurements of emissions from in situ Australian vegetation, particularly of the light dependence issue are critical to improving MEGAN for one of the world's major biogenic emitting regions.

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Section: The Csiro Chemical Transport Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Megan Model Setupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Isoprene and monoterpene emissions in south-east Australia: comparison of a multi-layer canopy model with MEGAN and with atmospheric observations

et al. 2018

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Materiality Assessment of Natural Capital Risks in Australian Forestry

et al. 2021

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Purpose of Review Natural capital is a term for the stocks of natural assets (e.g. natural resources and ecosystems) that yield flows of ecosystem services that benefit the economy and human well-being. Forestry is one of the industries with the greatest dependencies on natural capital, as well as having the potential for substantial positive or negative impacts on natural capital. These dependencies and impacts create direct risks to a forestry enterprise’s ongoing financial viability, which translate into indirect risks for investors and society. There are growing demands from a variety of stakeholders for more reliable information to assess such risks, but at present, these risks are not always well understood, assessed or communicated in a consistent and comparable way. This paper addresses this problem by applying a standardized methodology to develop the first systematic, evidence-based review and financial materiality assessment of natural capital risks for the Australian forestry sector. Recent Findings The vast potential scope of forestry impacts and dependencies on natural capital can be reduced to twenty key areas of relevance to Australian forestry, of which only seven to nine have been assessed as highly financially material for each of the sub-sectors of softwood plantations, hardwood plantations and native forestry. The majority of risks assessed as highly financially material are related to dependencies on natural capital. This is in part due to the fact that current regulations and certification schemes focus on managing impacts, but tend to overlook dependencies. Nearly all of the natural capital risks rated as highly material are likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Summary An improved understanding of natural capital risks is an important input to better decision-making by forestry enterprises, as well as their lenders and investors, forestry regulators and other relevant stakeholders. This paper contributes to the preparedness of the forestry industry and its stakeholders to address questions about vulnerability to future changes and declining trends in natural capital.

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Differences in isoprene and monoterpene emissions from cold-tolerant eucalypt species grown in the UK

Purser

Heal

White

et al. 2020

Atmospheric Pollution Research

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The UK may be required to expand its bioenergy production in order to make a significant contribution towards the delivery of its 'net zero' greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050. However, some trees grown for bioenergy are emitters of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including isoprene and terpenes, precursors in the formation of tropospheric ozone, an atmospheric pollutant, which require assessment to understand any consequent impacts on air quality. In this initial scoping study, VOC emission rates were quantified under UK climate conditions for the first time from four species of eucalypts suitable for growing as short-rotation forest for bioenergy. An additional previously characterised eucalypt species was included for comparison. Measurements were undertaken using a dynamic chamber sampling system on 2-3 year-old trees grown under ambient conditions. Average emission rates for isoprene, normalised to 30 °C and 1000 μmol m −2 s −1 PAR, ranged between 1.3 μg C g dw −1 h −1 to 10 μg C g dw −1 h −1 . All the eucalypt species measured were categorised as 'medium' isoprene emitters (1-10 μg C g dw −1 h −1 ). Total normalised monoterpene emission rates were of similar order of magnitude to isoprene or approximately one order of magnitude lower. The composition of the monoterpene emissions differed between the species and major compounds included eucalyptol, α-pinene, limonene and β-cisocimene. The emission rates presented here contribute the first data for further studies to quantify the potential impact on UK atmospheric composition, if there were widespread planting of eucalypts in the UK for bioenergy purposes.

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Current estimates of biogenic emissions from eucalypts uncertain for southeast Australia

Cited by 49 publications

References 65 publications

Isoprene and monoterpene emissions in south-east Australia: comparison of a multi-layer canopy model with MEGAN and with atmospheric observations

Isoprene and monoterpene emissions in south-east Australia: comparison of a multi-layer canopy model with MEGAN and with atmospheric observations

Materiality Assessment of Natural Capital Risks in Australian Forestry

Differences in isoprene and monoterpene emissions from cold-tolerant eucalypt species grown in the UK

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