How Will Forests Breathe in the Future? Investigating Biogenic VOC Emissions Under Elevated CO2
Name of applicant
Eva Kjærgaard
Title
Postdoctoral Fellow
Institution
University of Birmingham
Amount
DKK 2,735,776
Year
2025
Type of grant
Internationalisation Fellowships
What?
In the future, it seems inevitable that atmospheric CO2 levels will rise. In this project, we will investigate the consequences of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the emissions and oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from forests. This will improve our understanding of forest-atmosphere interactions and their response to climate change and in turn their effect on climate.
Why?
Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are emitted by forests and account for the majority of emitted VOCs globally. Atmospheric oxidation of BVOCs leads to formation of key oxidants, air pollutants and aerosols, which affect air quality, human health and Earth’s climate. However, research gaps in forest-atmosphere interactions limit our understanding of the largest source of BVOC emissions.
How?
This project will combine field studies at the BIFoR FACE facility with laboratory studies and modelling. At BIFoR FACE we will measure BVOC emissions from trees exposed to elevated CO2 at predicted levels of 2050. Oxidation of detected novel BVOCs will be investigated in the laboratory. Modelling approaches will complement these efforts, simulating the dynamics of forest-atmosphere interactions.