title: Surface ozone comparison conducted in two rural areas in central-southern Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this work is to contribute to the understanding of the photochemical air pollution analysing the levels and temporal variations of surface ozone in two rural areas situated in central-southern Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is based on ozone hourly data recorded during the overall period between January 2008 and November 2009. The seasonal and daily ozone cycles as well as the number of exceedances of the threshold established in the European Ozone Directive have been calculated and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study presents the first ozone data registered at these two rural sites in the Iberian Peninsula plateau. Ozone shows a clear seasonal variation with the lowest values in January and November. High ozone concentrations are interrelated with high radiation intensities, temperature and wind directions. The information threshold defined in the European Ozone Directives was exceeded six times, while the limit for protection of human health was exceeded more than 40 times. The limits to protect the vegetation were also exceeded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Porzuna (near Cabañeros National Park) presents higher ozone levels than Argamasilla during the night-time and during the daytime of the summer months. Ozone levels are lower in Argamasilla probably due to fresh emissions from the close industrial area of Puertollano. The ozone exceedances of the limits defined in the Ozone Directive point out an ozone problem in this rural region.
authors: Departamento de Química Física, Instituto de Tecnologías Química y Medioambiental (ITQUIMA), Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Notario
authors: Yolanda
authors: Y
authors: Díaz-de-Mera
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Aranda
authors: José Antonio
authors: JA
authors: Adame
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Parra
authors: Eugenio
authors: E
authors: Romero
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: Parra
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Muñoz
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000465:Algorithms; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis*; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D010126:Ozone