THE DYNAMICS OF AGED AIRMASSES AND OZONE IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN- RELEVANCE TO FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

EC supported projects have shown that atmospheric re-circulations deve lop along the Western Mediterranean coasts in summer. These lead to th e formation of layers over the sea which act as reservoirs for aged po llutants to enter land with the seabreeze of the next or following day s. Under strong insolation these circulations can be considered as ''l arge natural photo-chemical reactors'' where O-3 is produced at levels which are potentially harmful to vegetation. The reach of these circu lations within the coastal mountain ranges is also important to unders tand how, and where, forest ecosystems can be affected by pollutants i n this region. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.