A new study published in Science of the Total Environment, led by Dr. Eran Tas of the Institute of Environmental Sciences in the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, reveals that during periods of drought, it is not the levels of heat or dryness that determine the emission of volatile organic compounds from vegetation, but rather how quickly these conditions change.

The field study, conducted in the Beit Keshet Forest in northern Israel, shows how sharp fluctuations in humidity can change the chemistry of the air, and suggests an improvement to models for forecasting climate and air quality.

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