Atmospheric oxidation capacity sustained by a tropical forest

Abstract

Terrestrial vegetation, especially tropical rain forest, releases vast quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the atmosphere^1,2,3, which are removed by oxidation reactions and deposition of reaction products^4,5,6. The oxidation is mainly initiated by hydroxyl radicals (OH), primarily formed through the photodissociation of ozone⁴. Previously it was thought that, in unpolluted air, biogenic VOCs deplete OH and reduce the atmospheric oxidation capacity^5,6,7,8,9,10. Conversely, in polluted air VOC oxidation leads to noxious oxidant build-up by the catalytic action of nitrogen oxides^{5,6,<a id="ref-link-abstract-16" title="Lawrence, M. G. et al. A model for studies of...}