Air Pollution Status of a Representative Site in the Czech Republic Brdy Mountains

To analyze air quality and deposition over a forest site in the Czech Republic, a cooperative study was implemented in July 1993 within the Brdy Mountains. Weekly average concentration measurements of SO2, SO4−2, NO3−, NH4+, and HNO3 were made at the Brdy Mountains during the periods 2 July, 1993 to 2 December, 1994 and 2 June, 1995 to 9 September, 1995. The annual concentration of SO4−2, 3.9±1.6 μg m−3, was two times higher compared to other regional measurements. A local source of SO2 may be a contributing factor. The annual concentration of NH4+, 1.5±0.6 μg m−3, is lower than anticipated by a modeling study of European sources. Dry deposition of SO4−2 and NO3− was calculated by combining measured concentrations with modeled deposition velocity based on in-situ meteorological measurements. The inferred, seasonally weighted, average annual deposition during the study period was 324 kg km−2 for SO4−2 and 115 kg km−2 for NO3−. Ozone concentrations during an abbreviated period of July 1994 averaged 57 ppb and did not vary diurnally, indicating regional anthropogenic precursors for the photochemical generation of O3.