The “Oxidant and particle photochemical processes above a South-East Asian tropical rain forest” (OP3-Danum-08) project is a three year research project funded by the United Kingdom’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The overall goal of the project is to lead to a better understanding of the interactions that exist between natural forests and the Earth’s climate system. To this end, two measurement periods took place in April and June / July 2008, based in the Malaysian Borneo rainforest, at the Global Atmospheric Watch research station in Sabah, Malaysia and at the nearby Danum Valley Field Centre. The second of these periods also involved a period of measurements over the wider surrounding region (including both natural rainforest and oil palm plantations) from the UKs FAAM BAe 146 research aircraft. The related Aerosol Coupling in the Earths System (ACES) project, also involved measurements in Borneo in a third campaign that took place in May 2008 at the Sabahmas oil palm plantation. A wide range of gas phase and aerosol measurements were made during all phases of the project and this session will be used to present initial results – including assessing the following overarching questions:
a. What are the rates of transfer of organic compounds emitted from the tropical forest?
b. How are these organic compounds chemically processed immediately after release?
c. To what extent do the regional organic emissions contribute to the atmospheric aerosol in the region, and what are the effects of the aerosol? What is the composition of the organic fraction of the aerosol?
d. What are the effects of these biogenic emissions on global chemistry and climate?
e. How do emissions from the natural rainforest differ from those of oil palm plantations and how does this affect the local and regional atmosphere?
f. Can simulation chambers be used to increase our understanding of chemical processes in the tropics?