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Evaluation of surface ozone measurements during 2000–2005 at a rural area in the upper Spanish plateau

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Abstract

This paper presents the main experimental results of surface ozone concentrations measured at a rural area in Northern Spain from February 2000 to December 2005. Daily and seasonal variation of ozone has been analysed. The peak concentration levels are obtained in the afternoon, mean value around 88 µg m−3, with extreme average values of 59 µg m−3 in January and 113 µg m−3 in July. Small differences are found in the mean and median of the ozone levels from April to August, when spring and summer maxima are observed. Despite the great inter-annual ozone variability obtained, most air quality indicators showed a positive trend. Further analysis of the monthly mean ozone concentrations of the main percentiles have also been performed using a harmonic model. The upward trend was 6.2 ± 1.7 µg m−3 for the 98th percentile. To interpret the main features of the annual cycle and describe the ozone peaks, the influence of meteorological factors is studied. In summer, ozone production is governed by local processes, air temperature being the major controlling factor. However, the origin of the spring maximum is not so well identified.

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Acknowledgements

This paper has been possible thanks to the financial support provided by the Interministerial Commission of Science and Technology and the Regional Government of Castile and Leon, to whom the authors wish to express their gratitude.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, c/ Prado de la Magdalena s/n, 47071, Valladolid, Spain

    M. L. Sánchez, M. A. García, I. A. Pérez & B. de Torre

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  1. M. L. Sánchez
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  2. M. A. García
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  3. I. A. Pérez
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  4. B. de Torre
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Correspondence to M. L. Sánchez.

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Sánchez, M.L., García, M.A., Pérez, I.A. et al. Evaluation of surface ozone measurements during 2000–2005 at a rural area in the upper Spanish plateau. J Atmos Chem 60, 137–152 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-008-9113-2

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