{
  "id": 8251983,
  "title": "Chemical Conversations Between Forests and the Sky Affect Air Quality, Clouds, and More",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/chemical-conversations-between-forests-and-the-sky-affect-air-quality",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-18T13:05:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Eos",
    "slug": "eos",
    "url": "https://eos.org/features/chemical-conversations-between-forests-and-the-sky-affect-air-quality-clouds-and-more"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Forests and the atmosphere engage in a complex chemical dialogue that influences air quality, cloud formation, and climate. Forests are vital in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, but their full impact is more nuanced. While they absorb CO2, they also emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) that can impact cloud formation, air pollution, and the lifespan of methane. BVOCs are invisible but significant, comprising nearly 90% of nonmethane volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere.\n\nThese compounds originate from trees and other vegetation, contributing to that familiar forest scent. They emerge from the metabolic processes of plants after photosynthesis. Once released, BVOCs oxidize and form microscopic particles called secondary organic aerosols (SOAs), which can become cloud condensation nuclei. These particles influence cloud brightness and longevity, affecting Earth's energy balance.\n\nThe effects of BVOCs are dynamic and depend on atmospheric conditions. Under clean air conditions, increased BVOC emissions can lead to brighter clouds, reflecting more sunlight back into space and providing a cooling effect. However, in polluted environments, BVOCs can contribute to the formation of ozone, a greenhouse gas that traps heat, offsetting the cooling effect. Temperature, sunlight, drought, and pollution all play crucial roles in determining whether forests cool or warm the planet. Thus, the interplay between forests and the atmosphere is a delicate balance, crucial for understanding and forecasting air quality, cloud behavior, and future climate changes.",
  "summary": "Trees release invisible gases that can create clouds, trap heat, and worsen pollution. Scientists are busy trying to unravel forests’ complex atmospheric contributions in a changing climate.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}