Comparing the Importance of Iodine and Isoprene on Tropospheric Photochemistry

Isoprene, arguably the most studied biogenically emitted gas, is thought to have a large impact on tropospheric composition. Other naturally emitted species have been considered to play a less important role. Here the GEOS-Chem model is used to compare the impacts of isoprene and iodine emissions on present-day tropospheric composition. Removing isoprene emissions leads to a 3.4% decrease in tropospheric O-3 burden, a smaller absolute change than the 5.9% increase from removing iodine emissions. Iodine has a negligible impact on global mean OH concentrations and methane lifetime (+0.6% and +0.05%) whereas isoprene has a substantial impact on both (-4.3% and -4.2%). Isoprene emissions and chemistry are seen as essential for tropospheric chemistry models, but iodine is often not. We suggest that iodine should receive greater attention in model development and experimental research to allow improved predictions of past, present, and future tropospheric O-3.

Automated summary

The GEOS-Chem model was used to compare the impacts of isoprene and iodine emissions on present-day tropospheric composition. Removing isoprene emissions leads to a 3.4% decrease in tropospheric O-3 burden, while removing iodine emissions leads to a 5.9% increase. Isoprene has a substantial impact on global mean OH concentrations and methane lifetime, while iodine has a negligible impact. It is suggested that iodine should receive greater attention in model development and experimental research to improve predictions of tropospheric O-3.