Where is Ozone a Problem?

The global distribution of tropospheric ozone has been estimated using data collected by satellite. On a large scale the concentration of surface ozone increases in the summer and decreases in the winter due to changes in solar radiation. As discussed on the How is Tropospheric Ozone Formed? page, solar radiation is a key component to the creation of tropospheric ozone. These maps illustrate the changes in ozone due to season. For example, the highest concentrations of ozone are observed in the Northern Hemisphere during June, July, and August (JJA) but concentrations in the Northern Hemisphere decrease in the fall (SON) and winter (DJF) (Fishman et al. 2003).

Models have be used to project mean ozone concentrations during the growing season for 2030 using IPCC greenhouse gas emissions estimates. Regions with large urban areas may experience increasing ozone emissions in the next three decades. It is important to look at ozone concentrations on a global scale becuase of the long-range transport of ozone that can cross borders and negatively affect neighboring countries. Summertime ozone concentrations will have the greatest effect on plants because elevated levels of surface ozone can reduce crop productivity and growth (Fuhrer and Booker 2003).