Continental-Scale Biosphere - Atmosphere Interactions in Boreal Environment

TUUKKA PETÄJÄ, Ekaterina Ezhova, Meri Räty, Dmitri Moisseev, Veli-Matti Kerminen, Jaana Bäck, Harri Kokkola, Tero Mielonen, Taina Yli-Juuti, Annele Virtanen, Markku Kulmala, University of Helsinki

     Abstract Number: 334
     Working Group: Aerosols Spanning Spatial Scales: Measurement Networks to Models and Satellites

Abstract
The boreal forest provides an ideal locale to study biosphere-atmosphere interactions, aerosol and cloud microphysical processes in a biogenically dominated environment. In this work, we will summarise recent work done at Station for Measuring Ecosystem – Atmosphere Relations, SMEAR II site in Southern Finland. We particularly focus on observational evidence on biosphere-atmosphere interactions and aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions.

Our results show that the biospheric emissions of volatile organic compounds and their atmospheric processing first to condensable vapors and then to new aerosol particles is a relevant feature contributing to the properties of clouds and likely also to spatial variability of precipitation on a continental scale. It is crucial to maintain the comprehensive observational capacity (in-situ, ground-based and satellite-borne remote sensing) in order to better understand the feedbacks and interactions on a continental scale. Overall, the combination is critical in assessing the impact of climate change to the emissions, aerosols and clouds.