ELEVATED OZONE LEVELS IN GERMANY DURING T HE SUMMERS 1990-1992 .1. SYNOPTIC DESCRIPTION OF OZONE CONCENTRATIONS NEAR THE GROUND

The spatial distribution of ozone will be described, which was measure d at up to 270 ground based stations in Germany during the years 1990 to 1992. The number of infringements of impact related thresholds will be presented in maps and discussed. The spatial distribution of ozone is concentration dependent. In the range of 120 mu g/m(3), the concen tration clearly increases goingfrom northern to southern Germany. The ozone levels increase with altitude and are higher in rural than in ur ban areas. In the range of peak values greater than or equal to 180 mu g/m(3), however, the infringements of thresh olds increase going from north to south west, the dependence of altitude vanishes and peak val ues are measured most frequently in conurbations and adjacent zones. P eak concentrations greater than or equal to 360 mug/m(3) rarely occur, but infringements of thresholds oriented at the prevention principle is quite common in certain areas.