OZONE EPISODES OVER THE SOUTHEAST IBERIAN COAST: ORIGIN AND RECYCLING BETWEEN TWO SEAS

Abstract

Episodes of high tropospheric ozone concentration in the southeast coast of Iberian Peninsula during 2015 were identified together with associated synoptic conditions, and their most probable origins were determined by means of different atmospheric modelling simulations and data analysis. Most of episodes in this study were associated with high pressures and temperatures, not only over the southeast coast but also over the whole southern Iberian region, which are favourable to the ozone photochemical production. The tropospheric ozone levels detected are mainly due to the transport of ozone from the Eastern Iberian coast. However, Atlantic winds through the Strait of Gibraltar also produce recycling over the study region, and locally increase the ozone levels over the southeast coast of the Iberian