Impacts of Meteorological Parameters on Tropospheric Ozone Concentrations in Çanakkale

Abstract

Meteorological factors have a significant impact on the formation and transport of tropospheric ozone. In addition to the meteorological factors, solar radiation and associated chemical reactions, topography, and pollution sources also affect the ozone concentration levels (O3). In this study, the influences of the meteorological factors (temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, solar radiation) on O3 were investigated for Çanakkale throughout the 2014-2018 period. It was found that O3 concentration levels in summer season are linked with the high humidity and, especially high temperature. The statistical analysis indicated that O3 concentrations at Çan district (SE Çanakkale) were positively correlated with temperature during summer and autumn seasons (r=0.53). Similarly, a statistically significant positive correlation was found at Lapseki station of Çanakkale during autumn (r=0.48), spring (r=0.41), and summer months (r=0.40), respectively. On the other hand, relative humidity (RH) displayed negative correlations with O3 at Çan and Lapseki stations. In addition, negative correlation was observed between nitrogen oxides (NOX) and O3 values measured at Lapseki station. The main important factors affecting ozone concentration levels in Çanakkale were found as local meteorological conditions and long-range transportation of pollutants from anthropogenic sources (e.g. vehicle, industrial emissions, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from solvents and industry).