Biological injuries to forest ecosystems in two lateral valleys of Valtellina (Italy) have been
studied. The selected areas are characterized by different forest novel decline symptoms and
ozone concentration levels. Analyses of meteorological and air quality data collected by fixed
and mobile stations located in the two valleys are presented. Ozone concentration has been
measured both by passive samplers and continues analyzers and the ozone vertical gradient in
one valley has been determined. In order to investigate the relation between emission sources,
ambient ozone levels and plant biological injuries, a modeling research project has been
started. As preliminary results the wind field obtained by the application of two diagnostic
meteorological models, MINERVE and CALMET, and the computation of the biogenic
emissions are presented. Some examples of spatial distribution and temporal trend of the most
important pollutants emitted by plants are discussed
