Why tropical trees emit methy chloride

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26550017
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental dynamic analysis
• Research Institution: National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Principal Investigator: Saito Takuya 国立研究開発法人国立環境研究所, 環境計測研究センター, 主任研究員 (40414370)
• Research Collaborator: Kumagai Tomo'omi 国立大学法人・東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科, 教授 (50304770)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 塩化メチル / フタバガキ / オゾン層破壊

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Methyl chloride (CH3Cl), a volatile organic compound emitted primarily from natural sources, is the major carrier of chlorine to the stratosphere, where it contributes to chlorine-induced destruction of ozone. Among a variety of natural sources, tropical forest ecosystems are considered the single largest source of CH3Cl. However, little is known about what controls the emission rates. In this study, we screened ~15 species of trees for CH3Cl emission by using a canopy crane to gain access to the canopy in a lowland tropical rainforest at Lambir Hills National Park, Malaysian Borneo. We found that chloride concentrations in leaf water might be a factor controlling emissions of CH3Cl from tropical trees.

Free Research Field

大気化学