DIRECT CORRELATION OF AIR-POLLUTING OZONE AND TOBACCO WEATHER FLECK

Abstract

Influxes of polluted air and attacks of tobacco weather fleck in southwestern Ontario were accurately forecast from the synoptic weather pattern and from considerations of mesoscale meteorological systems. However, the principal air pollutant, ozone, occurred daily at low concentrations that were often not followed by corresponding amounts of damage. This difficulty was largely removed by modification of the dose term with the coefficient of evaporation. The latter may empirically represent physiological and physical factors affecting gas exchange. A related downward flux of ozone might be important in determining the amount of ozone available for absorption. The threshold doses of air-polluting ozone and experimentally generated ozone were approximately the same.