Trees emit isoprene, which reacts with other molecules and increases the production of cloud condensation nuclei 100-fold
A defense mechanism that has emerged and disappeared several times over the evolutionary history of different lines of plants, particularly trees in hot environments, plays a crucial role in Amazonia in one of the most important land climate parameters: the number of clouds in the sky. Probably as a way of dealing with thermal stress peaks, tree foliage emits a volatile compound—isoprene gas (C₅H₈). Under the daylight sun, isoprene degrades rapidly after being released, but under certain nocturnal conditions the compound remains in the air for longer, gaining altitude and transforming into an essential ingredient of atmospheric chemistry: a type of diffuser of the processes that result in clouds. This is the primary conclusion of two new studies conducted by international groups with the participation of Brazilians, published simultaneously in the journal Nature in December.
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