title: Effects of species-specific leaf characteristics and reduced water availability on fine particle capture efficiency of trees.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: janne.rasanen@uef.fi.
authors.forename: Janne V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Räsänen
authors.forename: Toini
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holopainen
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joutsensaari
authors.forename: Collins
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ndam
authors.forename: Pertti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasanen
authors.forename: Åsmund
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Rinnan
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivimäenpää
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D029662:Betula / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055864:Droughts; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D041605:Pinus sylvestris / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Capture efficiency; Fine particles; Moderate drought; Trees; Wind tunnel