Accumulated phytotoxic ozone dose estimation for deciduous forest in Kanto, Japan in summer☆

Abstract With ozone concentrations simulated using a regional chemical transport model (ADMER-PRO) and high-spatial resolution meteorological data, we investigated the influence of ozone concentration on deciduous forests in the Kanto region of Japan in summer during 2003, 2004, and 2009: three years for which weather characteristics differed greatly. Ozone risk for plants was assessed by the accumulated phytotoxic ozone dose (POD), a flux-based index. The effects were analyzed by particularly addressing the relation between the stomatal ozone flux and meteorological elements. Results revealed high absorption areas not only where injury to forests had been visually detected in previous studies, but also where injury had not been observed to date. Regarding the relation between the stomatal ozone flux and meteorological elements, air temperature and vapor pressure deficit strongly affected POD in 2004, when high temperature and little rainfall were observed. Additionally, the ozone concentration and irradiance strongly affected POD in 2003 when low temperatures and heavy rainfall were observed. The meteorological elements affecting POD differed from year to year. Results demonstrate the importance of multi-year simulations and analyses in the field of ozone risk assessment.