Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the temporal variability of tropospheric ozone pollution. The research was carried out for the agricultural region of central-eastern Poland, an area covering the Lublin Voivodeship. One-hour averages of automatic measurements of tropospheric ozone concentration in 2015–2017 were used for the study. The data were obtained from three measuring stations belonging to the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Poland. The stations were located as part of the Air Quality Monitoring System in rural communes in the north-western, central and southern parts of the Lublin Voivodeship. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the tropospheric ozone concentrations were significantly dependent on weather conditions during the years of the study. At each monitoring station, the one-hour average O3 concentrations showed a clear structure over the course of the day: they were higher in the late morning and early afternoon than in the early morning and at night. The highest O3 concentrations were observed at the Florianka measurement station, located in Roztocze National Park. This area had high forest cover and was located at the highest elevation above sea level of the three measuring stations. In the light of climate change and increasing O3 concentrations, further scientific research on atmospheric air pollution is crucial, especially in agricultural areas associated with food production.
Highlights
Atmospheric air pollution is a serious problem and a challenge for modern civilization
Measurement data on concentrations of tropospheric ozone obtained from the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Poland were used in the study
The assessment of population exposure to tropospheric ozone pollution is a difficult and complex task, as it shows considerable spatiotemporal variability and has a global scope. Both short- and long-term exposure to tropospheric ozone has a negative impact on the health of people, animals, plants, and entire ecosystems
Summary
Atmospheric air pollution is a serious problem and a challenge for modern civilization. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), air pollution, and in particular, increased greenhouse gas emissions, may lead to an air temperature rise of up to 2.4 ◦C by 2050, which in turn will increase extreme weather phenomena around the world, such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods. This will have adverse consequences for agricultural crops in various parts of the world, and for entire ecosystems and the biodiversity of the planet [8]
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