Development of a biogenic volatile organic compounds emission inventory for the SCOS97-NARSTO domain

The Biogenic Emission Inventory Geographic Information System (BEIGIS) is a spatially and temporally resolved biogenic hydrocarbon emissions inventory model developed by the California Air Resources Board that uses California land use/land cover, leaf mass, and emission rate databases within a GIS. BEIGIS simulates hourly emissions of isoprene, monoterpenes, and 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO, methylbutenol) at a 1 km2 resolution. When applied to the Southern California Ozone Study (SCOS97-NARSTO) domain for the 3–7 August 1997 ozone episode, the BEIGIS model predicts total biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions of 866 tons for the warmest day (5 August). Depending on whether wildfire emissions are included in the total volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions estimate, modeled BVOC emissions comprise between 16% and 28% of the total VOC inventory. As anthropogenic VOC emissions decline in future years due to control programs, the relative significance of BVOC emissions in the development of ozone control strategies for southern California may assume greater importance.