Surface ozone concentrations and ecosystem health: past trends and a guide to future projections

Cape, J. N.. 2008 Surface ozone concentrations and ecosystem health: past trends and a guide to future projections. Science of the Total Environment, 400. 257-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.06.025

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Abstract/Summary

This paper reviews current understanding of the sources and sinks of ozone in the troposphere, recent studies of long-term trends, and the factors which have to be taken into consideration when constructing and interpreting future models of ozone concentration. The factors controlling surface O3 concentrations are discussed initially to provide a basis for the ensuing discussion, followed by a summary of the evidence for recent trends in ground-level ozone concentrations, i.e. over the past 3 decades, which have shown a significant increase in the annual average in ‘background’ air typical of the unpolluted northern hemisphere. Closer to precursor sources, although urban winter concentrations have increased, rural peak spring and summer concentrations during ozone ‘episodes’ have decreased markedly in response to emissions reductions. In order to determine whether such trends are meaningful, the statistical techniques for determining temporal trends are reviewed. The possible causes of long-term trends in ozone are then discussed, with particular reference to the use of chemistry-transport models to interpret past trends. Such models are also used to make predictions of future trends in surface ozone concentrations, but few are comprehensive in integrating future climate changes with changes in land use and in emissions of ozone precursors. Guidance is given on the likely effects of climate/precursor/chemistry interactions so that model predictions can be judged.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.06.025
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > BG03 Quantifying the growing threat to plant and human health from ground level ozone
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Billett (to November 2013)
ISSN:	0048-9697
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	The definitive version of this paper is available from www.elsevier.com. Digital copy in Archive.
Additional Keywords:	Ozone, Photo-oxidants, Climate change, Plant health, Global emissions
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	24 Oct 2008 11:49 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/3541

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.06.025

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > BG03 Quantifying the growing threat to plant and human health from ground level ozone

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Billett (to November 2013)

ISSN:

0048-9697

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

The definitive version of this paper is available from www.elsevier.com. Digital copy in Archive.