Effects of species-specific leaf characteristics and reduced water availability on fine particle capture efficiency of trees

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of species-specific leaf characteristics and reduced water availability on fine particle capture efficiency of trees

AU - Räsänen, Janne V.

AU - Holopainen, Toini

AU - Joutsensaari, Jorma

AU - Ndamb, Collins

AU - Pasanen, Pertti

AU - Rinnan, Åsmund

AU - Kivimäenpää, Minna

PY - 2013/12

Y1 - 2013/12

N2 - Trees can improve air quality by capturing particles in their foliage. We determined the particle capture efficiencies of coniferous Pinus sylvestris and three broadleaved species: Betula pendula, Betula pubescens and Tilia vulgaris in a wind tunnel using NaCl particles. The importance of leaf surface structure, physiology and moderate soil drought on the particle capture efficiencies of the trees were determined. The results confirm earlier findings of more efficient particle capture by conifers compared to broadleaved plants. The particle capture efficiency of P. sylvestris (0.21%) was significantly higher than those of B. pubescens, T. vulgaris and B. pendula (0.083%, 0.047%, 0.043%, respectively). The small leaf size of P. sylvestris was the major characteristic that increased particle capture. Among the broadleaved species, low leaf wettability, low stomatal density and leaf hairiness increased particle capture. Moderate soil drought tended to increase particle capture efficiency of P. sylvestris.

AB - Trees can improve air quality by capturing particles in their foliage. We determined the particle capture efficiencies of coniferous Pinus sylvestris and three broadleaved species: Betula pendula, Betula pubescens and Tilia vulgaris in a wind tunnel using NaCl particles. The importance of leaf surface structure, physiology and moderate soil drought on the particle capture efficiencies of the trees were determined. The results confirm earlier findings of more efficient particle capture by conifers compared to broadleaved plants. The particle capture efficiency of P. sylvestris (0.21%) was significantly higher than those of B. pubescens, T. vulgaris and B. pendula (0.083%, 0.047%, 0.043%, respectively). The small leaf size of P. sylvestris was the major characteristic that increased particle capture. Among the broadleaved species, low leaf wettability, low stomatal density and leaf hairiness increased particle capture. Moderate soil drought tended to increase particle capture efficiency of P. sylvestris.

U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.015

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.015

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23735814

SN - 0269-7491

VL - 183

SP - 64

EP - 70

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

ER -