Chemistry-driven changes strongly influence climate forcing from vegetation emissions

James Weber (), Scott Archer-Nicholls, Nathan Luke Abraham, Youngsub Matthew Shin, Paul Griffiths, Daniel P. Grosvenor, Catherine E. Scott and Alex T. Archibald
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James Weber: University of Cambridge
Scott Archer-Nicholls: University of Cambridge
Nathan Luke Abraham: University of Cambridge
Youngsub Matthew Shin: University of Cambridge
Paul Griffiths: University of Cambridge
Daniel P. Grosvenor: University of Leeds
Catherine E. Scott: University of Leeds
Alex T. Archibald: University of Cambridge

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) affect climate via changes to aerosols, aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI), ozone and methane. BVOCs exhibit dependence on climate (causing a feedback) and land use but there remains uncertainty in their net climatic impact. One factor is the description of BVOC chemistry. Here, using the earth-system model UKESM1, we quantify chemistry’s influence by comparing the response to doubling BVOC emissions in the pre-industrial with standard and state-of-science chemistry. The net forcing (feedback) is positive: ozone and methane increases and ACI changes outweigh enhanced aerosol scattering. Contrary to prior studies, the ACI response is driven by cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) reductions from suppression of gas-phase SO2 oxidation. With state-of-science chemistry the feedback is 43% smaller as lower oxidant depletion yields smaller methane increases and CDNC decreases. This illustrates chemistry’s significant influence on BVOC’s climatic impact and the more complex pathways by which BVOCs influence climate than currently recognised.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34944-9

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