Investigating Thermal-stress Response in Common Landscaping Plant to Elucidate Changes in Urban Forest BVOC Emissions as a Result of Climate Change

JASMINE OSEI-ENIN, Juan Flores, Celia Faiola, University of California, Irvine

     Abstract Number: 592
     Working Group: Urban Aerosols

Abstract
Urban forests can serve as a source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and ozone production. VOC emissions from urban plants are likely to increase during extreme heat events that are becoming more severe and frequent as a result of the compounding effect of climate change, high urbanization rates, and heat island effects. Currently, plant VOC literature, including plant stress VOC research, is dominated by coniferous and deciduous trees because they are the largest source of biogenic VOCs (BVOCs) globally. However, it is important to characterize urban BVOC emission profiles to improve understanding of urban air quality and potential human health impacts. To address this knowledge gap, this study quantified BVOC emissions from healthy and thermally-stressed plants, focusing on a species that is commonly used for landscaping in Southern California, alpinia zerumbet. We observed physiological stress response in photosystem II efficiency, and changes in VOC composition and emission in response to heat treatment. These emission changes were normalized to modeled emissions to track deviation from the expected. Evaluating the BVOC profile of urban forests is critical to effectively respond to and mitigate public health impacts of increased particulate matter and ground-level ozone as a direct result of climate change-induced heat stress within the urban environment.