Ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) observations in Saxony, Germany, for 1997–2020: trends, modelling and implications for O<sub>3</sub> control
<p>Given its importance for human health, vegetation and climate, trends in ground-level ozone (O<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>) concentrations in eastern Germany were systematically analysed using the long-term O<span class="inline-f...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/8907/2025/acp-25-8907-2025.pdf |
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| Summary: | <p>Given its importance for human health, vegetation and climate, trends in ground-level ozone (O<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>) concentrations in eastern Germany were systematically analysed using the long-term O<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> data from 16 measurement stations. The findings indicate that despite reductions in oxides of nitrogen (NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub>=</span> NO <span class="inline-formula">+</span> NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>) concentrations across all sites, O<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> pollution in Saxony has in fact worsened over the past decade, especially in densely populated urban areas. The strongest O<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> trend is observed at a traffic-dominated station, with an annual ozone increase of 1.2 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> (or 3.5 % yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>), while urban and rural background stations show more moderate rises of, on average, 0.5 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span> yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> (or 1.1 % yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>) over the last decade.</p>
<p>To diagnose O<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> formation and the controlling effects of NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over the past decades in this region, for the first time, detailed photochemical box modelling was performed by means of the complex MCM (Master Chemical Mechanism). Analysis of isopleth diagrams for two seasons indicates that O<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> formation was predominantly VOC-limited at traffic and urban sites from 2000 to 2019. The observed rise in O<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> levels suggests that current efforts to reduce total non-methane volatile organic compound (TNMVOC, including NMVOCs and oxygenated VOCs) emissions and NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> from various sources unfortunately remain insufficient. Based on anthropogenic and biogenic emission data, we recommend that continued NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> abatement and further additional VOC controls, with a focus on solvent use, be implemented in densely populated areas to mitigate O<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> pollution in the coming years.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |