This project addresses the role of streams and rivers in the emissions of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs) in northern boreal ecosystems. BVOCs are important because they contribute to the formation of aerosols in the atmosphere and in this way can counterbalance the warming effects of greenhouse gases. The general aim of our project is to characterize and quantify the BVOC fluxes and the sources of BVOCs in streams and rivers in the northern boreal zone. The study will be based on field measurements conducted in pristine catchment areas in Finnish and Swedish Lapland. More detailed laboratory experiments will be carried out to study the effect of DOC quality and nutrient limitation on BVOC emission. Results will be used for studying the effects of environmental factors on BVOCs with modelling. The project will produce novel information on the role of rivers in the emissions of BVOCs in the northern boreal zone where the information on the BVOC emissions is scarce.

2023

2027