Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Tropical Deforestation on Global and Regional Atmospheric Chemistry

  • Chapter
Tropical Forests and Climate

Abstract

A major portion of tropospheric photochemistry occurs in the tropics. Deforestation, colonization, and development of tropical rain forest areas could provoke significant changes in emissions of radiatively and photochemically active trace gases. A brief review of studies on trace-gas emissions in pristine and disturbed tropical habitats is followed by an effort to model regional tropospheric chemistry under undisturbed and polluted conditions. Model results suggest that changing emissions could stimulate photochemistry leading to enhanced ozone production and greater mineral acidity in rainfall in colonized agricultural regions. Model results agree with measurements made during the NASA ABLE missions. Under agricultural/pastoral development scenarios, tropical rain forest regions could export greater levels of N2O, CH4, CO, and photochemical precursors of NOy and O3 to the global atmosphere with implications for climatic warming.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anderson, L. C. and Levine, J. S.: 1986, `Relative Rates of Nitric Oxide and Nitrous Oxide Production by Nitrifiers, Denitrifiers and Nitrate Respirers’, Appl. and Environ. Microbiol. 51, 938–945.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andreae, M. O., Browell, E. V., Garstang, M., Gregory, G. L., Harriss, R. C., Hill, G. E, Jacob, D. J., Pereira, M. C., Sachse, G. W, Setzer, A. W, Silva-Dias, P. L., Talbot, R. W., Torres, A. L., and Wofsy, S. C.: 1988a, ‘Biomass Burning Emissions and Associated Haze Layers over Amazonia’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1509–1527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andreae, M. O., Talbot, R. W., Andreae, T. W., and Harriss, R. C.: 1988b, ‘Formic and Acetic Acid over the Central Amazon Region, Brazil. 1. Dry Season’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1616–1624.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakwin, P. S., Wofsy, S. C., Fan, S.-M., Keller, M., Trumbore, S., da Costa, J. M.: 1990, ‘Emission of Nitric Oxide (NO) from Tropical Forest Soils and Exchange of NO between the Forest Canopy and Atmospheric Boundary Layer’, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 16 765–16 772.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartlett, K. B., Crill, P. M., Sebacher, D. 1., Harriss, R. C., Wilson, J. O., and Melack, J. M.: 1988, ‘Methane Flux from the Central Amazonian Floodplain’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1571–1582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breitenbeck, G. A., Blackmer, A. M., and Bremner, J. M.: 1980, ‘Effects of Different Nitrogen Ferti-lizers on Emission of Nitrous Oxide from Soil’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 7, 85–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browell, E. V, Gregory, G. L., Harriss, R. C., and Kirchhoff, V. W. J. H.: 1990, ‘Tropospheric Ozone and Aerosol Variations over the Amazon Basin during the Wet Season’, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 16 887–16 901.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooley, D. R. and Manning, W J.: 1987, ‘The Impact of Ozone on Assimilate Partitioning in Plants: A Review’, Environmental Pollution 47, 95–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cros, B., Delmas, R., Nganga, D., Clairac, B., and Fontan, J.: 1988, ‘Seasonal Trends of Ozone in Equatorial Africa: Experimental Evidence of Photochemical Formation, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 8355–8366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crutzen, P. J. and Gidel, L. T.: 1983, ‘A Two-Dimentional Photochemical Model of the Atmosphere. 2. The Tropospheric Budgets of the Anthropogenic Chlorocarbons, CO, CH„ CH,CI, and the Effect of Various NO, Sources on Tropospheric Ozone’, J. Geophys. Res. 88, 6641–6661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crutzen, P. J.: 1987, ‘The Role of the Tropics in Atmospheric Chemistry’, in R. E. Dickinson (ed.), Geophysiology of Amazonia, John Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crutzen, P. J., Aselmann, I., and Seiler, W.: 1986, ‘Methane Production by Domestic Animals, Wild Ruminants, Other Herbivorous Fauna, and Humans’, Tellus 38B, 271–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crutzen, P. J., Delany, A. C., Greenberg, J., Haagenson, P., Heidt, L., Lueb, R., Pollock, W., Seiler, W., Wartburg, A., and Zimmerman, P.: 1985, ‘Tropospheric Chemical Composition Measurements in Brazil during the Dry Season’, J. Atm. Chem. 2, 233–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delany, A. C., Haagenson, P., Walters, S., Wartburg, A. F., and Crutzen, P. J.: 1985, ‘Photochemically Produced Ozone in the Emission from Large-Scale Tropical Vegetation Fires’, J. Geophys. Res. 90, 2425–2429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denevan, W. M.: 1981, `Swidden and Cattle Versus Forest: The Imminent Demise of the Amazon Rain Forest Re-Examined’, in V. H. Sutlive, N. Altshuler, and M. D. Zamora (eds.), Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Deforestation in the Third World, Studies in Third World Societies, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckholm, E.: 1975, The Other Energy Crisis, Worldwatch Institute, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Protection Agency: 1986, `Development of the 1980 NAPAP Emissions Inventory, Report EPA/600/7–86/057a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan, S.-M., Wofsy, S. C., Bakwin, P. S., Jacob, D. J., and Fitzjarrald, D. R.: 1990, ‘Atmosphere-Bio-sphere Exchange of CO, and 03 in Central Amazon Forest’, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 16 851–16 864.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fearnside, P. M.: 1979, ‘Cattle Yield Prediction for the Trans-Amazon Highway of Brazil’, Interciencia 4, 220–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, J., Watson, C. E., Larsen, J. C., and Logan, J.: 1990, ‘The Distribution of Tropospheric Ozone Determined from Satellite Data’, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 3599–3617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, J., Watson, C. E., and Larsen, J. C.: 1988, ‘The Distribution of Total Ozone, and Tropospheric Ozone at Low Latitudes Deduced from Satellite Data Sets’, Proc. Workshop on Tropospheric Ozone, Quadrennial Ozone Symposium, Göttingen, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, J., Minnis, P., and Reichle, H. G.: 1986, ‘Use of Satellite Data to Study Tropospheric Ozone in the Tropics’, J. Geophys. Res. 91, 14451–14465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, J. and Larsen, J. C.: 1987, ‘Distribution of Total Ozone and Stratospheric Ozone in the Tropics: Implications for the Distribution of Tropospheric Ozone’, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 6627–6634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galbally, I.: 1985, Emission of Nitrogen to the Remote Atmosphere, in J. N. Galloway, M. O. Andreae, and H. Rodhe (eds.), The Biogeochemical Cycling of Sulfur and Nitrogen in the Remote Atmosphere, D. Reidel, Dordrecht, Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goreau, T. J. and de Mello, W. Z.: 1988, ‘Tropical Deforestation: Some Effects on Atmospheric Chemistry’, Ambio 17, 275–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goreau, T. J. and de Mello, W. Z.: 1987, ‘Effects of Deforestation on Sources and Sinks of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, and Methane from Central Amazonian Soils and Biota during the Dry Season: A Preliminary Study, in D. Athie, T. E. Lovejoy, and P. M. Oyens (eds.), Proceedings of the Workshop on Biogeochemistry of Tropical Rain Forests: Problems for Research, Sao Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura da Universidade de Sao Paulo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, G. L., Browell, E. V., and Warren, L. S.: 1988, ‘Boundary Layer Ozone: An Airborne Survey above the Amazon Basin’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1452–1468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, G. L., Warren, L. S., and Hudgins, C. H.: 1990, Amazon Basin Ozone and Aerosol: Wet Season Observations’, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 16903–16912.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao, W. M., Scharffe, D., Crutzen, P. J., and Sanhueza, E.: 1988, ‘Production of N,O, CH4, and CO, from Soils in the Tropical Savanna during the Dry Season’, J. Atm. Chem. 7, 93–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harriss, R. C., Sachse, G. W., Hill, G. F., Wade, L. O., and Gregory, G. L.: 1990, ‘Carbon Monoxide over the Amazon Basin during the Wet Season’, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 16 927–16 932.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harriss, R. C., Wofsy, S. C., Garstang, M., Browell, E. V., Molion, L. C. B., McNeal, R. J., Hoell, J. M., Bendura, R. J., Beck, S. M., Navarro, R. L., Riley, J. T., and Snell, R. L.: 1988a, ‘The Amazon Boundary Layer Experiment (ABLE2A): Dry Season 1985’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1351–1360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harriss, R. C., Sebacher, D. I., Bartlett, K. B., Bartlett, D. S., and Cri11, P. M.: 1988b, ‘Sources of Atmospheric Methane in the South Florida Environment’, Global Biogeochemical Cycles 2, 231–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heck, W. W., Cure, W. W., Rawlings, J. O., Zaragoza, L. J., Heagle, A. S., Heggestad, H. E., Kohut, R. J., Kress, L. W, and Temple, P. J.: 1984, Assessing Impacts of Ozone on Agricultural Crops. I: Overview’, J. Air. Poll. Conty. Assoc. 34, 729–735.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob, D. J. and Wofsy, S. C.: 1988, ‘Photochemistry of Biogenic Emissions over the Amazon Forest’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1477–1486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob, D. J. and Wofsy, S. C.: 1990, ‘Budgets of Reactive Nitrogen, Hydrocarbons, and Ozone over the Amazon Forest during the Wet Season’, J. Geophys. Res. 95, 16 737–16 754.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, C. and Sanhueza, E.: 1988, ‘Emission of NO from Savanna Soils during Rainy Season’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 14193–14198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, C., Rodhe, H., and Sanhueza, E.: 1988, ‘Emission of NO in a Tropical Savanna and a Cloud Forest during the Dry Season’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 7180–7192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, W. A., Wofsy, S. C., Keller, M., and da Costa, J. M.: 1988, ‘Emission of NO and Deposition of 03 in a Tropical Forest System’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1389–1395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, M., Goreau, T. J., Wofsy, S. C., Kaplan, W. A., and McElroy, M. B.: 1983, ‘Production of Nitrous Oxide and Consumption of Methane by Forest Soils, Geophys Res. Lett. 10, 1156–1159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller, M., Kaplan, W. A., and Wofsy, S. C.: 1986, ‘Emissions of N,O, CH„ and CO, from Tropical Forest Soils’, J. Geophys. Res. 91, 11 791–11 802.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kousky, V. E. and Kagano, M. T.: 1981, ‘A Climatological Study of the Tropospheric Circulation over the Amazon Region, Acta Amazonica 11, 743–758.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, B., Guenther, A., Gay, D., and Westberg, H.: 1987, ‘A National Inventory of Biogenic Hydrocarbon Emissions’, J. Geophys. Res. 21, 1695–1705.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipschultz, F., Zafirou, O. C., Wofsy, S. C., McElroy, M. B., Valois, E W., and Watson, S. W.: 1981, ‘Production of NO and N,O by Soil Nitrifying Bacteria’, Nature 294, 641–643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logan, J. A.: 1985, ‘Tropospheric Ozone: Seasonal Behavior, Trends, and Anthropogenic Influence, J. Geophys. Res. 90 10 463–10 482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Logan, J. A.: 1988, ‘The Ozone Problem in Rural Areas of the United States’, in I. S. A. Isaksen (ed.), Tropospheric Ozone: Regional and Global Scale Interactions, D. Reidel Publishing Company, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Logan, J. A. and Kirchhoff, V. W. J. H.: 1986, ‘Seasonal Variations of Tropospheric Ozone at Natal, Brazil’, J. Geophys. Res. 91, 7875–7881.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logan, J. A., Prather, M. J., Wofsy, S. C., and McElroy, M. B.: 1981, `Tropospheric Chemistry: A Global Perspective’, J. Geophys. Res. 86, 7210–7254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luizäo, E, Matson, P., Livingston, G., Luizo, R., and Vitousek, P.: 1989, ‘Nitrous Oxide Flux following Tropical Land Clearing’, Global Biogeochemical Cycles 3, 281–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lurmann, E W., Lloyd, A. C., and Atkinson,R 1986, ‘A Chemical Mechanism for Use in Long-RangeTransport/Acid Deposition Computer Modeling’, J. Geophys. Res. 91 10 905–10 936.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, N.: 1980, Conversion of Tropical Moist Forests, National Academy of Sciences, Washington,D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierotti, D.: 1988, `The Measurement of Trace Oxygenated Hydrocarbons in the Environment’, Ph.D. Thesis, University of California, San Diego, California, U.S.A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, R. A. and Khalil, M. A. K.: 1988, ‘Isoprene over the Amazon Basin’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1417–1421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reichle, H. G., Connors, V. S., Holland, J. A., Hypes, W. D., Wallio, H. A., Casas, J. C., Gormsen, B. B., Saylor, M. S., and Hesketh, W. D.: 1986, `Middle and Upper Tropospheric Carbon Monoxide Mixing Ratios as Measured by a Satellite-Borne Remote Sensor During November 1981’, J. Geophys. Res. 91, 10 865–10 887.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, J., Cabral, O. M. R., and Ferreira De Aguiar, L.: 1989, ‘Stomatal and Boundary-Layer Con- ductances Measured in a Terra Firma Rain Forest, Amazonas, Brazil’, J. App!. Ecol. 27, 336–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sachse, G. W., Harriss, R. C., Fishman, J., Hill, G. F., and Cahoon, D. R.: 1988, `Carbon Monoxide over the Amazon Basin during the 1985 Dry Season’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1422–1430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seiler, W. and Conrad, R.: 1987, `Contribution of Tropical Ecosystems to the Global Budgets of Trace Gases, Especially CH„ H„ CO, and N,O’, in R. E. Dickinson (ed.), The Geophysiology of Amazonia, John Wiley, New York, pp. 133–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seiler, W. and Crutzen, R S.: 1980, `Estimates of Cross and Net Fluxes of Carbon between the Biosphere and the Atmosphere from Biomass Burning’, Clim. Change 2, 207–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Setzer, A. W. and Pereira, M. C.: 1986, `Detection of Large Biomass Burning in the Amazon with Satellite Images’, EOS 67, 247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tingey, D. T., Manning, M., Grothaus, L. C., and Burns, W. E: 1979, `The Influence of Light and Temperature on Isoprene Emission Rates from Live Oak’, Physiol. Plant 47, 112–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torres, A. L. and Buchan, H.: 1988, ‘Tropospheric Nitric Oxide Measurements over the Amazon Basin’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1396–1406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torres, A. L. and Hooks, K. R.: 1988, ‘Nitric Oxide Measurements over the Amazon Basin: ABLE-2B Results’, EOS 69, 318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tosi, J. A. and Voertman, R. F.: 1964, Some Environmental Factors in Economic Development of the Tropics’, Economic Geography 40, 189–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verstraete, M. M.: 1987, `Radiation Transfer in Plant Canopies: Transmission of Direct Solar Radiation and the Role of Leaf Orientation’, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 10985–10995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wesely, M. L.: 1989, ‘Improved Parameterizations for Surface Resistance to Gaseous Dry Deposition in Regional-Scale, Numerical Models’, Report to the Environmental Protection Agency, Interagency Agreement DW89932394–01 to the U.S. Dept. of Energy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, E. J., Parrish, D. D., Buhr, M. E, and Fehsenfeld, E C.: 1988, `Measurement of Soil NO,. Emissions in Central Pennsylvania’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 9539–9546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, P. R., Greenberg, J. P. and Westberg, C. E.: 1988, `Measurements of Atmospheric Hydrocarbons and Biogenic Emission Fluxes in the Amazon Boundary Layer’, J. Geophys. Res. 93 1407–1416.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO, 80307, USA

    Michael Keller

  2. Earth and Planetary Sciences, Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Daniel J. Jacob & Steven C. Wofsy

  3. Center for the Study of Earth, Ocean, and Space, Science and Engineering Building, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA

    Robert C. Harriss

Authors
  1. Michael Keller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel J. Jacob
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Steven C. Wofsy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robert C. Harriss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Upper Meadow, Old Road, Headington, Oxford, UK

    Norman Myers

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Keller, M., Jacob, D.J., Wofsy, S.C., Harriss, R.C. (1991). Effects of Tropical Deforestation on Global and Regional Atmospheric Chemistry. In: Myers, N. (eds) Tropical Forests and Climate. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3608-4_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3608-4_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4147-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-3608-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation