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in-cites,
May 2005
http://www.in-cites.com/papers/AlexGuenther.html
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An
interview with:
Dr. Alex Guenther |
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the interview below, Dr. Alex Guenther talks about his highly
cited paper, "A global model of natural volatile organic
compound emissions," (Guenther A., et al., J. Geophys.
Res-Atmos. 100[D5]: 8873-92, 20 May 1995). According to the
ISI
Essential Science Indicators
Web product, this paper has been cited 639 times to date,
placing it among the 10 most-cited papers over the past decade
in the field of Geosciences. Dr. Guenther’s record in this
field includes 50 papers cited a total of 1,775 times to date.
Dr. Guenther is a Senior Scientist and Section Head at the
National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.
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Why do you think your paper is highly cited?
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“This multidisciplinary effort also helped to initiate closer interactions between scientists of the various disciplines that have some interest in natural VOC emissions.”
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The paper describes numerical methods for estimating global
gridded natural volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. These
estimates have been used in many global chemistry and transport
model simulations. One reason for the high number of citations is
that this was a collaborative effort by scientists from the various
disciplines (e.g., biologists, analytical chemists,
micrometeorologists) that are important for understanding either the
processes controlling these emissions or the processes that
determine the impact of these emissions on the earth system.
The result was a paper that was of interest to many different
scientific communities. The citations occur in a large number of
journals that represent very different scientific
disciplines.
What are the circumstances which led you to your work?
The International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) program
identified the need for accurate global emission inventories that
could be used in global chemistry and transport models. IGAC created
the Global Emission Inventory Activity (GEIA) in 1990 to develop and
distribute global emissions inventories of gases and aerosols
emitted into the atmosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources.
I co-led a working group that was responsible for natural VOC
emissions. We initiated the development of this model by
organizing a workshop that brought together a diverse group of
scientists that had the expertise required to develop this model of
natural VOC emissions.
Was your model a completely new concept
for your field, or was it based on an established system?
This was not the first attempt to model global natural VOC
emissions. Earlier attempts were made by either observational
scientists or by global chemistry modelers. The observational
scientists created models that were not readily useable in global
chemistry and transport models. The global modelers created methods
that did not represent the current understanding of the processes
controlling these emissions. This model included perspectives of
both observational- and theoretical-based researchers.
What is the significance of this work for your field?
This work provided a standard method for estimating global
natural VOC emission rates. This allowed global chemistry and
transport modelers to have a consistent set of natural VOC boundary
conditions for their models. This multidisciplinary effort
also helped to initiate closer interactions between scientists of
the various disciplines that have some interest in natural VOC
emissions. This led to a series of workshops and scientific
meetings that brought together these communities. In addition, the
emission model was been incorporated into global chemistry and
transport models and improved their capacity for investigating
processes controlling atmospheric chemical composition.
Have there been any changes to your model since you first
published on it?
Our understanding of the processes controlling natural VOC
emissions has improved considerably in the past decade and this has
been incorporated into the model algorithms and parameters. A
revised modeling framework, called the Model of Emissions of Gases
and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN), has recently been completed and a
paper describing the model is currently in review.
Are you still involved with this project, and if so, where do
you hope to take it in the future?
I am still involved in this work. I am interested in improving
the components of the model that simulate the response of natural
VOC emissions to changes in climate and land management. I am
particularly interested in the role of natural VOC in
biosphere-atmosphere interactions and feedback couplings.
Alex Guenther, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist and Section Head
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Boulder, CO, USA
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in-cites, May 2005
http://www.in-cites.com/papers/AlexGuenther.html
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cites
