The dynamics of aged airmasses and ozone in the Western Mediterranean: Relevance to forest ecosystems

EC supported projects have shown that atmospheric re-circulations develop along the Western Mediterranean coasts in summer. These lead to the formation of layers over the sea which act as reservoirs for aged pollutants to enter land with the seabreeze of the next or following days. Under strong insolation these circulations can be considered as “large natural photo-chemical reactors” where O3 is produced at levels which are potentially harmful to vegetation. The reach of these circulations within the coastal mountain ranges is also important to understand how, and where, forest ecosystems can be affected by pollutants in this region.