Trends of Surface Ozone Concentrations in Germany and Their Connections with Changes in Meteorological Variables

A. M. Zvyagintsev and O. A. Tarasova

Changes in daily mean and daily maximum surface ozone concentrations, temperature, and relative humidity are evaluated based on the data of long-term observations (from 11 to 16 years) carried out at eight German stations. For all stations the trends of daily mean surface ozone concentration are statistically significant and positive. The trend values are different and generally range from 0 to 10% per 10 years. The trends of the maximum daily concentration are, on average, approximately 1.5 times less. Noticeable part of trends of the surface ozone concentration is connected with the trends of meteorological variables: temperature, relative humidity, and air mass transport direction. After the account of the influence of the trends of meteorological variables, the trends of the surface ozone concentration at most stations substantially decrease. The highest trend values of daily mean and daily maximum surface ozone concentrations are observed in a cold season; in a warm season, the trend values are much lower, at some stations they are statistically insignificant. A conclusion is made that for a correct revealing of reasons of long-term changes in the surface ozone concentration one should take into account changes in meteorological factors influencing its formation.