Surface ozone behaviour at rural sites in Portugal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

J. C. M. Pires (Author) FEUP; M. C. M. Alvim Ferraz (Author) FEUP; F. G. Martins (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Atmospheric Research

Vol. 104-105 No. FEB 2012

Pages: 164-171

ISSN: 0169-8095

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 12 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 20 Citations

INSPEC

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

CORDIS: Natural sciences > Environmental science

Associated Projects

PEst-C/EQB/UI0511/2011 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - UI 511 - 2011-2012

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-DBJ

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2011.10.001

Abstract (EN): Surface ozone (O-3) is one of the most important pollutant in the atmosphere, causing several damages on human health, climate, vegetation and materials. This pollutant presents different behaviours in urban and rural environments. High levels of nitrogen oxides (O-3 precursor) at urban sites have an important role in the photochemical O-3 production in the atmosphere. However, O-3 concentrations tend to be higher in rural areas. To better understand this phenomenon, this study aims to apply statistical methods to evaluate the O-3 behaviour at 13 rural sites in Portugal. The results showed that: (i) the O-3 concentrations presented the highest values in 2003 and 2005; (ii) the standard values for human health protection was surpassed at almost all monitoring sites; (iii) the maximum concentrations usually occurred at the same time at all monitoring sites (the highest frequency at 16 h), with exception of the monitoring site located in Azores archipelago which had an almost uniform distribution; (iv) three groups of monitoring sites were identified using cluster analysis; and (v) similar daily average profiles of O-3 concentrations were observed at sites belonging to the same group.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8