Surface ozone concentrations in the U.K. in 1987–1988

Abstract

A new national air quality monitoring network has been established in the U.K. by Warren Spring Laboratory and other organisations for the U.K. Department of the Environment. Its primary purpose is to determine rural concentrations of ozone and other pollutants throughout the U.K. The network employs continuous air pollution monitoring equipment; in addition, sites operated by Warren Spring Laboratory use a data telemetry system for remote data acquisition—the first such system to be used for a national air pollution monitoring network in the U.K. This paper describes the results of O 3 observations at WSL-operated monitoring sites throughout the first full year of network operation. For the first time O 3 concentrations from a number of sites covering a wide range of locations in the U.K. are presented. Average and peak levels of O 3 during 1987–1988 are quantified, and seasonal diurnal variations are discussed. Some discussion is given of the factors influencing these levels at the different sites. The spatial extent, magnitude and duration of O 3 concentrations during episodes observed in 1987–1988 are also discussed.