The Impact of Biogenic Isoprene in Dependence on Meteorological Conditions within Urban Green

Abstract

It is indisputable that urban green spaces have a positive impact on their nearby vicinity, but also for the residents. Though it does not matter, if it is a positive effect on the local climate or for recreational values. Nevertheless, an awkward planting could lead to an accumulation of air pollutants. From the applied urban climatology’s point of view it is necessary to think about planning new vegetation within urban parks. In comparison to a climatic adjusted construction all over the urban area, likewise for new plantings throughout the planning phase the predominantly planted species must be considered in the right way. The analysis of the air pollution situation within different urban park areas in Kaiserslautern, Germany, inevitably revealed that during clear and calm weather conditions biogenic precursors could be emitted by diverse plants. Less atmospheric exchange, high air temperature and solar radiation arrange it so that near surface ozone is formed. Due to the fact that this air quality indicator could be diluted or dispatched the accumulation of it leads to higher concentration. It could be calculated that a wrong proportion of species which emit higher rates of biogenic hydrocarbons and the size of the green area lead to a location-based formation of near surface ozone by e. g. biogenic isoprene. Finally, this ends in a negative assessment of the recreational value of such an area in relation to the benefits which an urban green area should rather have. However, it is possible to react on this. Planning oriented recommendations for action could be given for optimizing the air quality situation. Ultimately, it is frequently only the lack of knowledge that diverse species of the current vegetation stock of an urban green area lead verifiably to an increase of the local near surface ozone concentration.