ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Spatial and Temporal Variations
in O3 Concentrations in Western Carpathian
Rural Mountain Environments
Rastislav Janík, Daniela Kellerová, Branislav Schieber
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Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences,
Štúrova 2, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovak Republic
Submission date: 2015-03-17
Final revision date: 2015-05-14
Acceptance date: 2015-05-14
Publication date: 2015-09-21
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(5):2003-2008
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ABSTRACT
O3 concentrations were monitored between 2006 and 2012 in rural environments in the Štiavnické and
Kremnické mountains (the western Carpathian region). There were no spatial differences between the two
sites. On the other hand, distinct temporal variations were noticed especially during 2006-08 and 2009-12,
with O3 levels ranging between 36-77 and 42-84 μg·m-3 in the Štiavnickés and Kremnickés, respectively.
Higher O3 levels correlated with the increases in ambient temperatures and were recorded simultaneously.
The maximum mean annual O3 levels were recorded in 2008, representing 144 μg·m-3 and 116 μg·m-3 in both
ranges in 2012. The standard deviations as well as standard errors were low in both localities, with the variability
lower in the Kremnickés. The minimum annual O3 levels were observed in 2010, falling to 20.0 μg·m-3
at both sites. The seasonal maxima were recorded in summer. The ozone values at both sites were more influenced
by temperature than by rainfall. The situation of the ground level ozone formation in the studied localities
has not been levelled off so far; its developmental trend is not explicit. The occurrence of extreme ozone
events is evident, and the associated environmental is serious.