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AIRTREE MODEL

The model Aggregated Interpretation of the Energy balance and water dynamics for Ecosystem services assessment, or more simply AIRTREE, is the result of the most advanced methodological developments in the field of scientific research in the field of ecophysiology. It is a multilayer model to predict exchanges of CO2, water, ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and fine particles between the leaves and the atmosphere (Figure 1). AIRTREE consists essentially of four different modules for estimation: 1) leaf temperature and radiative fluxes at different levels from top to bottom of the crown (Environmental Module); 2) the water flow of the soil and the availability of water for the photosynthetic plant (Hydrological Module); 3) of net photosynthesis and stomatic conductance (Photosynthesis Module); 4) the deposition that quantifies the deposition of pollutants on the portions of the crown and soil in function of the turbulence of the atmosphere and the structural characteristics of the plants (Deposition Form).

More information on the characteristics of the model is available in the following scientific publications:

Conte, A., Otu-Larbi, F., Alivernini, A., Hoshika, Y., Paoletti, E., Ashworth, K., Fares, S., 2021. Exploring new strategies for ozone-risk assessment: A dynamic-threshold case study. Environ. Pollut. 287, 117620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117620

Conte, A., Zappitelli, I., Fusaro, L., Alivernini, A., Moretti, V., Sorgi, T., Recanatesi, F., Fares, S., 2022. Significant Loss of Ecosystem Services by Environmental Changes in the Mediterranean Coastal Area. Forests 2022, 13, 689. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050689

Fares, S., Alivernini, A., Conte, A., Maggi, F., 2019. Ozone and particle fluxes in a Mediterranean forest predicted by the AIRTREE model. Sci. Total Environ. 682, 494–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.109

Fares, S., Conte, A., Alivernini, A., Chianucci, F., Grotti, M., Zappitelli, I., Petrella, F., Corona, P., 2020. Testing Removal of Carbon Dioxide, Ozone, and Atmospheric Particles by Urban Parks in Italy. Environ. Sci. Technol. 54, 14910–4922. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c04740

Zappitelli, I., Conte, A., Alivernini, A., Finardi, S., & Fares, S. (2023). Species-Specific Contribution to Atmospheric Carbon and Pollutant Removal: Case Studies in Two Italian Municipalities. Atmosphere, 14(2), 285. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020285