Improved simulation of isoprene oxidation chemistry with the ECHAM5/MESSy chemistry-climate model: lessons from the GABRIEL airborne field campaign

Interactive comment on “Improved simulation of isoprene oxidation chemistry with the ECHAM5/MESSy chemistry-climate model: lessons from the GABRIEL airborne field

Krol (2008) has made a detailed and critical Short Comment on our manuscript, Butler et al (2008). Above all we are very pleased to note that he accepts our main point, that our work “may lead to a better understanding of atmospheric chemistry”. His major point of contention seems to be our presentation style, which echoes throughout his comment. For instance, we “show too many results” and sho...

Interactive comment on “Improved simulation of isoprene oxidation chemistry with the ECHAM5/MESSy chemistry-climate model: lessons from the GABRIEL airborne field

The major criticism of our paper by Anonymous Referee 2 is that we have used, and failed to justify, “a global model for the analysis of a rather local problem”. We disagree with the Anonymous Referee that model underestimation of OH in the presence of isoprene is a local problem. Emissions of isoprene make up approximately one half of emissions of all NMHC emitted globally, both natural and an...

Interactive comment on “Improved simulation of isoprene oxidation chemistry with the ECHAM5/MESSy chemistry-climate model: lessons from the GABRIEL airborne field campaign” by T. M. Butler et al

Atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) dynamics exert a large influence on atmospheric chemistry, but it is sometimes relegated to a secondary role in the analysis of the behaviour of reactive species within the ABL. Since Butler et al (2008) used the word lessons in their article’s title; I would like to add some extra ones motivated after reading their paper. The first one is related to the vertica...

Interactive comment on “Improved simulation of isoprene oxidation chemistry with the ECHAM5/MESSy chemistry-climate model: lessons from the GABRIEL airborne field campaign” by T. M. Butler et al

Improved simulation of isoprene oxidation chemistry

The GABRIEL airborne field measurement campaign, conducted over the Guyanas in October 2005, produced measurements of hydroxyl radical (OH) concentration which are significantly higher than can be simulated using current generation models of atmospheric chemistry. Based on the hypothesis that this " missing OH " is due to an 5 as-yet undiscovered mechanism for recycling OH during the oxidation ...