Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted into the atmosphere from both anthropogenic and natural sources. They are the “fuel” that keeps atmospheric photochemistry running. Due to considerable changes in anthropogenic emissions, the pattern and concentration of VOCs have changed significantly during the last decade. Therefore, VOCs' sources, sinks, and residence times are still subjects of current investigations.

In addition to influencing local, regional, and even global photochemistry, several of these compounds have a potential impact on climate, both due to their properties as greenhouse gases, and also through their ability to form aerosol particles on oxidation. The formation of gaseous and particulate secondary products via the oxidation of VOCs is one of the largest unknowns in the quantitative prediction of the Earth's climate on regional and global scales, and on the understanding of local air quality.

To be able to model and control the impact of VOCs, it is essential to understand the sources of VOCs, their distribution in the atmosphere, and the chemical transformations they undergo. Furthermore, VOCs can be used as tracer compounds to investigate reactions that are not directly accessible to current measurement techniques or as probes to “visualize” transport processes in the atmosphere or across atmospheric boundaries.

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