A study on tropospheric ozone concentration near an oil refinery at Falconara, Italy

Data for ozone, nitrogen oxides, atmospheric stability and meteorological analyses by back-trajectories from two months of July and August 2001 were used to analyse the relative importance of local and mesoscale wind systems and vertical mixing at Falconara (Ancona, IT). The highest ozone concentrations coincided with elevated instability and occurred during the early afternoon when winds and turbulent mixing were at their maximum. Results show that the ozone season and the associated photochemical episodes in the Falconara area are not particularly important and comparable to other coastal areas on the Adriatic Sea. On the basis of this study the target air quality objectives for ozone are likely to be achieved in this area by the deadline set by the European Framework and Daughter Directives (i.e. 2010).