Ozone levels in the Spanish Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range are above the thresholds for plant protection: analysis at 2262, 1850, and 995 m a.s.l.
The Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range, located at 60 km from Madrid City (Spain), includes high valuable ecosystems following an altitude gradient, some of them protected under the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. The characteristic Mediterranean climatic conditions and the precursors emitted from Madrid favor a high photochemical production of ozone (O3) in the region. However, very little information is available about the patterns and levels of O3and other air pollutants in the high elevation areas and their potential effects on vegetation. Ozone levels were monitored at three altitudes (2262, 1850, and 995 m a.s.l.) for at least 3 years within the 2005-2011 period. NOxand SO2were also recorded at the highest and lowest altitude sites. Despite the inter-annual and seasonal variations detected in the O3concentrations, the study revealed that SG is exposed to a chronic O3pollution. The two high elevation sites showed high O3levels even in winter and at nighttime, having low correlation with local meteorological variables. At the lower elevation site, O3levels were more related with local meteorological and pollution conditions. Ozone concentrations at the three sites exceeded the thresholds for the protection of human health and vegetation according to the European Air Quality Directive (EU/50/2008) and the thresholds for vegetation protection of the CLRTAP. Ozone should be considered as a stress factor for the health of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain ecosystems. Furthermore, since O3levels at foothills differ from concentration in high elevation, monitoring stations in mountain ranges should be incorporated in regional air quality monitoring networks.
Ecotoxicology of Air Pollution, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain. susana.elvira@ciemat.es.
S
S
Elvira
Ecotoxicology of Air Pollution, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
I
I
González-Fernández
Ecotoxicology of Air Pollution, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
R
R
Alonso
Ecotoxicology of Air Pollution, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
J
J
Sanz
Ecotoxicology of Air Pollution, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
V
V
Bermejo-Bermejo
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D000531:Altitude; D002947:Cities; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D055904:Meteorology; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis*; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects*; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain; D014887:Weather
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010126:Ozone
Iberian peninsula; Mediterranean mountain range; National Park; Ozone critical levels; Ozone risk assessment; Sierra de Guadarrama Mountains; Surface ozone
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