Ozone Monitoring in Mendoza, Argentina - Initial results

SCHLINK, U., ; PULIAFITO, J.L.; HERBARTH, O.; RICHTER, M.; PULIAFITO, JOSÉ LUIS; BEHLER,J.C.; PULIAFITO, E.

JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Air & Waste Management Association

Lugar: Pittsburg, PA, EE.UU.; Año: 1999 vol. 49 p. 82 - 87

1047-3289

A series of continuous ambient tropospheric ozone measurements were taken in Mendoza, Argentina, for a period of one year starting in November 1995. The data obtained were analyzed in terms of diurnal and annual variation. Indications were found of the strong impact of the mountain-valley circulation system, which ventilates and considerably cleans the air in Mendoza. The data are discussed in comparison with air pollution in the German city of Leipzig. In Mendoza, the high concentration of precursors and the strong solar radiation contribute to high levels of ozone. In fact, monitoring reveals considerably lower concentrations than Leipzig, owing to the diluting effect of local meteorology. The low-level jet is mainly active during the summer. It lowers the peak mid-day ozone concentration and produces a temporary concentration increase at night. The Environmental protection Agency standard of a maximum one-hour of 0.250 mg ozone/m3 (125 ppb) is never reached, and the World Health Organization standard of 0.113 mg ozone/m3 (56.5 ppb) is only rarely exceeded during winter. Implications: The photochemical formation of ozone from precursors and local meteorology play major roles in the air quality of Mendoza. Thanks to the existing natural ventilation, ozone pollution is not expected to have any critical adverse health effects. Nevertheless, the elevated ozone concentrations during calm periods in winter highlight the necessity of reducing precursors from vehicle emissions. It is essential that the ventilation paths be left open during future urban development.