Investigation of halogenated volatile organic compounds (XVOCs) in the Amazon Rainforest

  • Date: Dec 6, 2023
  • Speaker: Christoph Hartmann
Halogenated volatile organic compounds (XVOCs, halocarbons or organohalides) are volatile hydrocarbons that have at least one halogen atom occupying the molecular site of a hydrogen atom. These substances are of global importance because they can deplete stratospheric ozone. Since the regulation of anthropogenic XVOC emissions, the importance of naturally formed XVOCs has been increasing. Chloromethane (CH3Cl), for example, represents the largest natural source of chlorine in the atmosphere with plants suggested to be its major source. Other XVOCs like Chloroform (CHCl3) influence atmospheric chemistry more on a local scale due to their shorter atmospheric lifetimes. My presentation serves as a basic introduction to the world of naturally formed XVOCs by explaining the relevance of the topic and showing different approaches to measuring XVOCs at the ATTO site in the Amazon rainforest.
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