Pre-EXPRESSO

To pave the way for EXPRESSO field work, Zimmerman and ACD scientist Alex Guenther went to Africa to scout potential study regions in January 1994. Klinger met with two French colleagues in the CAR and Congo later that year and has made two more trips to the republic this year, accompanied by other principals such as ACD deputy director Paul Sperry and logistics expert Karyn Sawyer (UCAR's Joint International Climate Project/Planning Office). In January, the visitors covered over 2,000 kilometers in surveying the region.

The trips helped the researchers to focus the science for the intensive observing periods. On his most recent visit, Klinger and his colleagues collected volatile organic carbon emissions from a wide range of plant species and sampled ambient air concentrations.