The long-term impact of biogenic volatile organic compound emissions on urban ozone patterns over central Europe: contributions from urban and rural vegetation

Abstract

The impact of biogenic emissions of hydrocarbons from vegetation on ozone, as well as on overall oxidative capacity of air, is analyzed for central European cities for a present-day period using a chemistry transport model. Moreover, the analysis evaluates the partial role of urban vegetation in impacting all biogenic emissions. We found substantial increases in ozone due to these emissions, and about 10% of this increase is attributable to vegetation within urban areas.