Mirror image hydrocarbons from Tropical and Boreal forests

[摘要] Monoterpenes, emitted in large quantities by trees to attract pollinatorsand repel herbivores, can exist in mirror image forms called enantiomers. Inthis study such enantiomeric pairs have been measured in ambient air overextensive forest ecosystems in South America and northern Europe. For thedominant monoterpene, α-pinene, the (−)-form was measured in largeexcess over the (+)-form over the Tropical rainforest, whereas the reversewas observed over the Boreal forest. Interestingly, over the Tropical forest(−)-α-pinene did not correlate with its own enantiomer, butcorrelated well with isoprene. The results indicate a remarkable ecosystemscale enantiomeric fingerprint and a nexus between the biosphere andatmosphere.

[学科分类] 大气科学