II.4.5. Europe

Figs. II.4.5.1–II.4.5.4 present the maps of PM₁₀ and ozone concentrations in the European scale. In case of PM10 the maps show the annual average and the 36^th highest daily values, the ozone maps show the 26^th highest daily maximum 8-hour value, and the exposure index AOT40 for vegetation. All maps reflect the situation in the year 2009 – i.e. they are the most recent published European maps. The maps were created within the ETC/ACM Consortium (in which CHMI takes part) for the European Environment Agency [34]. The maps were created by the combination of the measured and supplementary data, by merging the rural and urban maps of air pollution (with the exception of AOT40, where there is only a rural map) in 10x10 km resolution.

The European maps provide the context for the maps of air pollution in the Czech Republic. In case of PM₁₀ we can see that the Ostrava-Katowice area ranks – together with the Po lowland in Italy and several Balkan areas – among the most polluted areas in Europe. In case of the ground-level ozone, it can be stated the levels measured in the Czech Republic reach the average values corresponding to the geographic position of the Czech Republic in the European continent.

Fig. II.4.5.1 Annual average PM10 concentrations, 2009

Fig. II.4.5.2 36^th highest value of maximum daily average of PM10 concentration, 2009

Fig. II.4.5.3 26^th highest value of maximum daily 8-hour running average of ground-level ozone concentrations, 2009

Fig. II.4.5.4 Rural map of the values of ozone exposure index AOT40 for crops protection, 2009