Considering the Air Quality Impacts of Bioenergy Crop Production: A Case Study Involving Arundo donax

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• 作者：William C. Porter ; Kelley C. Barsanti ; Eowyn C. Baughman ; Todd N. Rosenstiel
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T)
• 出版年：2012
• 出版时间：September 4, 2012
• 年：2012
• 卷：46
• 期：17
• 页码：9777-9784
• 全文大小：331K
• 年卷期：v.46,no.17(September 4, 2012)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

The expanding production of bioenergy crops may impact regional air quality through the production of volatile organic compounds such as isoprene. To investigate the effects of isoprene-emitting crops on air quality, specifically ozone (O₃) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, we performed a series of model runs using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF/Chem) coupled with the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN) simulating a proposed cropland conversion to the giant cane Arundo donax for biomass production. Cultivation of A. donax in the relatively clean air of northeastern Oregon resulted in an average increase in 8 h O₃ levels of 0.52 ppb, while SOA was largely unaffected (<+0.01 渭g m^鈥?). Conversions in U.S. regions with reduced air quality (eastern Texas and northern Illinois) resulted in average 8 h O₃ increases of 2.46 and 3.97 ppb, respectively, with daily increases up to 15 ppb in the Illinois case, and daytime SOA increases up to 0.57 渭g m^鈥?. While cultivation of isoprene-emitting bioenergy crops may be appropriate at some scales and in some regions, other areas may experience increased O₃ and SOA, highlighting the need to consider isoprene emissions when evaluating potential regional impacts of bioenergy crop production.