Surface Ozone

Starting date: 1-1-1996
Status: Running
Instrumentation and calibration: Surface ozone is measured by using a UV-absorption analyser (Dasibi 1108 W-GEN). Intercomparison with the laboratory standard (Dasibi 1008 PC #6506, traced back to SRP#15 at the World Calibration Centre for surface ozone at WCC-EMPA) are carried out every 3-months
Project affiliation (s) Present: SHARE, GAW-WMO, MACC-2, NextData Past: VOTALP, STACCATO, MINATROC, OZOMONT, TOR-2
Related research programmes

  • Tropospheric background condition
  • Greenhouse gases
  • Long-range transport
  • Saharan dust transport
  • Stratospheric intrusions

Why is this research important? Ozone (O3) is one of the most important gases involved in atmospheric photochemical processes. Being the precursor of oxidizing substances like OH and NO3, O3 is one of the key agents determining the oxidation capacity of the troposphere. Due to its chemical properties, O3 is also a dangerous secondary pollutant in the lower troposphere. Moreover, there has been great interest in the influence of tropospheric O3 on climate over the last decades, because of its central role in the regional radiative budget of the atmosphere. For understanding the factors influencing the tropospheric O3 budget, continuous monitoring in background conditions (i.e., conditions not directly influenced by anthropogenic activities, like mountain areas) represents a fundamental activity.
Quick look The surface O3 concentration recorded at ICO-OV during the period of study (1996 – 2008, yearly mean value: 53 ± 10 ppbv) is characterized by a seasonal cycle with an average monthly minimum of about 40 ppbv in winter and a maximum of about 65 ppbv in summer. No clear daily O3 cycle is observed at ICO-OV, except for some periods during the warm season when a small reverse diurnal variation can be caused by the local upslope winds.
Time-series of monthly ozone mean values at ICO-OV.
Organization (s): ISAC-CNR Via Gobetti 101, I-40129, Bologna www.isac.cnr.it
Contact persons: Dr. Davide Putero e-mail: d.putero [at] isac.cnr.it, phone: +39 011 383 9833
Dr. Paolo Cristofanelli e-mail: p.cristofanelli [at] isac.cnr.it phone: +39 051 6399597
Where can I find the data? World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG) or by direct request to: p.cristofanelli [at] isac.cnr.it and d.putero [at] isac.cnr.it