Biological processes interacting with the Atmosphere
- Photo : Dr. Karl Herrmann (Pixelio)
Prof. Jürgen Kesselmeier (MPI Chemistry; FB10)
Prof. Harald Paulsen (FB10, Biology)
Prof. Thorsten Hoffmann (FB9, Chemistry)
Prof. Dirk Schneider (FB9, Chemistry)
Prof. Heinz Decker (FB 10, Biology)
Understanding the interactions between biosphere and the atmosphere is a key for our understanding of atmospheric chemistry and physics and for the evaluation of earth system models. Biological contributions by higher vegetation, soil biology, algae, cyanobacteria, lichens and mosses significantly affect the exchange of trace compounds between the earth surface and the atmosphere.
Similarly, consumption of anthropogenic trace compounds contributes to these aspects. All these processes have a significant influence on local, regional and global climate. This way, climate research is closely related to the fields of botany, plant physiology, phycology and microbiology coupling exchange studies with physiological/biochemical processes, such as photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration and enzymology. Investigations of the exchange of stable as well as reactive trace gases between soil/vegetation and the atmosphere cover scales from the enzymatic processes up to regional flux measurements and satellite observations.
Compounds of interest for example are Non Methane Hydrocarbons (NMHC) or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC, Monoterpenes, isoprene, oxygenated compounds, acids, aldehydes) as well as reduced sulphur compounds (H2S, COS, CH3SH, DMS, CS2). The spectrum of compounds involved and the complex interactions in nature needs a close cooperation between several research disciplines such as biology, chemistry and physics merging the scientific as well as analytical questions.