This paper analyzes ozone monitoring data obtained from 50 European stations operated by the Co-operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) and two stations maintained by the Austrian Environmental Agency. Data used in the analyses covered the summer period of the year 1990.
The analysis explores first time series of ozone concentration and establishes simple statistical parameters such as maximum, average, daily variation and exceedance indices. It is shown that different indices rank high at different locations in Europe, stressing the importance of well-based information when establishing relationships to environmental impacts. Different characteristic exposure patterns are identified for Northern Europe, Central Europe and the UK.
The analysis shows that at some stations also night time ozone concentration has a remarkable effect on cumulated excess ozone. Thus, caution should be exerted when excluding the nighttime values until more detailed data on the biological effects of nighttime high concentrations are obtained
