Sensitivity of biogenic isoprene emissions to past, present and future environmental conditions and implications for atmospheric chemistry.

Pacifico, F., Folberth, G.A., Jones, C.D., Harrison, S.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5687-1903 and Collins, W.J. (2012) Sensitivity of biogenic isoprene emissions to past, present and future environmental conditions and implications for atmospheric chemistry. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 117 (D22). ISSN 2169-8996 doi: 10.1029/2012JD018276

Abstract/Summary

[1] We have implemented a process-based isoprene emission model in the HadGEM2 Earth-system model with coupled atmospheric chemistry in order to examine the feedback between isoprene emission and climate. Isoprene emissions and their impact on atmospheric chemistry and climate are estimated for preindustrial (1860–1869), present-day (2000–2009), and future (2100–2109) climate conditions. The estimate of 460 TgC/yr for present-day global total isoprene emission is consistent with previous estimates. Preindustrial isoprene emissions are estimated to be 26% higher than present-day. Future isoprene emissions using the RCP8.5 scenario are similar to present-day because increased emissions resulting from climate warming are countered by CO2 inhibition of isoprene emissions. The impact of biogenic isoprene emissions on the global O3 burden and CH4 lifetime is small but locally significant, and the impact of changes in isoprene emissions on atmospheric chemistry depends strongly on the state of climate and chemistry.