Boundary layer development and meteorological parameters impact on the ground level ozone concentration over an urban area in a mountain valley (Sofia, Bulgaria)

• Published in: International journal of remote sensing Vol. 32; no. 24; pp. 8915 - 8933
• Main Authors: Kolev, Nikolay, Savov, Plamen, Donev, Evgeni, Ivanov, Danko, Evgenieva, Tsvetina, Grigorieva, Vera, Kolev, Ivan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01-01-2011
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied geophysics; Biological and medical sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Techniques; Internal geophysics; ozone; photochemical reactions; pollution; relative humidity; summer; Teledetection and vegetation maps; temperature; urban areas; Bulgaria; Europe; Sofia Bulgaria; development; mountains; processes; Dynamic characteristic; penetration; springs; boundary layer; concentration; Research; Photochemical reaction; urban areas; Natural; pollution; troposphere; ozone; Result; ecology; Meteorological variable; Problem; behavior; stratosphere; valleys; destruction; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 1366-5901; 0143-1161; 1366-5901
• DOI: 10.1080/01431161.2010.524679

The ecological problems caused by the increasing ozone concentration are not easily solved because ozone is not directly emitted by certain sources Its concentration depends on numerous dynamical and chemical processes. Stratosphere–troposphere exchange and subsequent ozone penetration into the boundary layer determine the contribution of so-called ‘natural’ ozone to ozone pollution near the ground. However, the main contribution to the concentration of this pollution is that of the anthropogenic ozone, which is generated as a result of complex photochemical reactions. The purpose of this research is the ground level ozone concentration behaviour to be studied during the stable boundary layer (SBL) and the residual layer (RL) destruction and the convective boundary layer (CBL) formation, so the influence of the temperature, the relative humidity and the height of the mixing layer (ML) as well as that of the ML formation in different areas of Sofia (42° 39′ N, 23° 23′ E, 591 m above sea level), Bulgaria, have to be determined. The ground level ozone concentration in the area of the Institute of Electronics changes synchronously with the development of the ML. The maximum values of the ground level ozone concentration are reached when the height of the ML reached its maximum and afterwards. The maximum growth of the ground level ozone concentration is around 11:00–12:30 h LST when a fast growth of the ML begins and the complete destruction of the RL is observed, that is, the two processes of ML growth and entrainment of aerosol and ozone from the higher layers of the atmospheric boundary layer are observed. The values of the ground level ozone concentration during the summer months are higher than those during the fall.