Utilizing Satellite Data to Highlight High Ozone Concentration Events During Fire Episodes

Abstract

The long-term ground-level ozone concentration measurements at the Preila station in Lithuania showed no significant trend of ozone peak values over 1982-2008. The ozone episodes that can be characterized by unusually high concentration during spring were analyzed. The air mass backward trajectories, satellite fire location data, air pollutant dispersion modeling and measured concentration of other pollutants were used in the study. The investigations have shown that pollution released during the fires in southern Russia and Ukraine is a factor influencing the ozone concentration in Lithuania, at distances of over 1,000 km from the fire areas. The ozone concentration increase up to 20 mg/m3 was established as a result of fires in the neighboring regions. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011.