Meteorological Aspects of Atmospheric Ozone as a Potential Threat to the Forest Industry of North Florida

Davis, D. R.; Dean, C. E.

Meteorological Aspects of Atmospheric Ozone as a Potential Threat to the Forest Industry of North Florida

1972

Davis, D. R. | Dean, C. E.

Observations over the past 8 years showed diurnal, daily, seasonal, and yearly variations in ozone levels. Ozone concentrations were highest in the late winter, spring, and early summer, and lowest in late summer. Day-to-day variations were associated with changes in weather patterns. Minor increases accompanied some but not all thunderstorms and cold frontal passage. Major increases were observed with squall lines, ozone-rich air masses, and with stagnating air masses containing air pollutants. This report compares highest observed ozone concentrations with reported damaging threshold concentrations for pine and other commercially important trees. Ozone is apparently a minimal threat to the forestry industry of North Florida at the present time. However, as air pollution increases, photochemically produced ozone in stagnating air masses may become a problem to the industry as it has in other parts of the country.

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