This page last reviewed April 20, 2008

Introduction

Biogenic emissions are emissions from natural sources, such as plants and trees. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimates emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from vegetation for natural areas, crops, and urban vegetation. BVOC emissions are functions of the species leaf mass, emission factors, temperature, and light conditions. Due to the heterogeneity of vegetation land cover, species composition, and leafmass distribution in California, quantifying BVOC emissions requires an emission inventory model with region-specific input databases and a high degree of spatial and temporal resolution. In response to this need, CARB has supported field research to measure BVOC emissions from California plant species and landscapes, to investigate atmospheric chemical processes involving BVOCs, and to examine the plant species composition and dominance of California landscapes. Information exchange between researchers and developers is supported through the CARB Biogenic Working Group. Data from these efforts are used to develop Geographic Information System (GIS) - based models for estimating BVOC Emissions.

Emission Inventory Development: methods

Overview of biogenic VOC emissions using the BEIGIS model.

Development of a biogenic volatile organic compounds emission inventory for the SCOS97-NARSTO domain. Scott, K.I. and Benjamin, M.T. (2003) Atmospheric Environment 37 Supplement No. 2, S39-S49.

Development of a biogenic volitile organic compound emission inventory for the Central California Ozone Study (CCOS) domain. (Draft) Scott, K.I.

Development of a statewide annual biogenic volatile organic compound emission inventory. In progress. Annual estimates will be reported on CARB's web site after peer review.

Research Project Reports, Presentations

Ecosystems Impact on Air Pollution, CARB Research Division Program Area

UC Berkeley Trace Gas Biogeochemistry Group

Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions Group, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Atmospheric Chemistry Division

Biogenic VOC Database. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Atmospheric Chemistry Division

BEIS: U.S. EPA biogenic emission model.

CARB Biogenics Seminar. June 12, 2003.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/seminars/biogenicday/biogenicday.htm
ftp://ftp.arb.ca.gov/carbis/research/seminars/bio-day/goldstein/goldstein.pdf

ftp://ftp.arb.ca.gov/carbis/research/seminars/bio-day/karlik/karlik.pdf

ftp://ftp.arb.ca.gov/carbis/research/seminars/bio-day/doskey/doskey.pdf

Schade, G., Goldstein, A., Gray, D. and Lerdau, M. 2000. Canopy and leaf level 2-methyl-3-butenol-2-ol fluxes from a Ponderosa pine plantation.

The following reports are available from this webpage:

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF DATABASES FOR MODELING
BIOGENIC HYDROCARBONS IN CALIFORNIA'S AIRSHEDS. Principal
Investigator: Arthur M. Winer, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles. 2001.
97-320.

WHOLE ECOSYSTEM MEASUREMENTS OF BIOGENIC HYDROCARBON
EMISSIONS. Principal Investigator: Dr. Allen H. Goldstein. University of
California, Berkeley. 2001. 98-328.

BIOGENIC HYDROCARBON INVENTORIES FOR CALIFORNIA: GENERATION
OF ESSENTIAL DATABASES. Principal Investigator: Arthur M. Winer.
University of California, Los Angeles. 1998. 95-309.

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A BIOGENIC EMISSION SYSTEM FOR
PHOTOCHEMICAL GRID MODELING IN CALIFORNIA. Principal Investigator:
Arthur M. Winer. University of California, Los Angeles. 1995. 93-725.

DETERMINATION OF VARIABILITY IN LEAF BIOMASS DENSITIES OF
CONIFERS AND MIXED CONIFERS UNDER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS IN CALIFORNIA'S SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR BASIN. Principal
Investigator: Patrick J. Temple. University of California, Riverside. 1995. 92-303.

HYDROCARBON EMISSIONS FROM VEGETATION FOUND IN CALIFORNIA'S
CENTRAL VALLEY. Principal Investigator: Arthur M. Winer. University of
California, Riverside. Research Note 90-12. 1989. A732-155.

INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE OF NATURAL HYDROCARBONS IN
PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG FORMATION IN CALIFORNIA. Principal Investigator:
Dr. Arthur M. Winer. University of California, Riverside. 1983. A0-056-32.

Emission Inventory