Urban

Protection of human health: to assess the exposure of the urban population to ozone, i.e. where the population density and ozone concentration are relatively high and representative of the exposure of the general population

A few km²

Away from the influence of local emissions such as traffic, petrol stations etc; vented locations where the urban population to well mixed levels can be measured; locations such as residential and commercial areas of cities, parks (away from the trees), big streets or squares with very little or no traffic open areas characteristic of education, sports or recreation facilities

Suburban

Protection of human health and vegetation: to assess the exposure of the population and vegetation located in the outskirts of the agglomeration, where the highest ozone levels, to which the population and vegetation is likely to be directly or indirectly exposed, occur

Some tens of km²

At a certain distance from the area of maximum emissions, downwind following the main wind direction during conditions favourable to ozone formation;

where population, sensitive crops or natural ecosystems located in the outer fringe of an agglomeration are exposed to high ozone levels; where appropriate, some sub urban stations also upwind of the area of maximum emissions, in order to determine the regional background levels of ozone

Rural

Protection of human health and vegetation: to assess the exposure of population, crops and natural ecosystems to sub-regional scale ozone concentrations

Sub-regional levels (a few km²)

Stations can be located in small settlements and/or areas with natural ecosystems, forests or crops; representative for ozone away from the influence of immediate local emissions such as industrial installations and roads; at open area sites, but not on higher mountain-tops

Rural background

Protection of vegetation and human health: to assess the exposure of crops and natural ecosystems to regional-scale ozone concentrations as well as exposure of the populations

Regional/national/continental levels (1,000 to 10,000 km²)

Station located in areas with lower population density, e.g. with natural ecosystems, forests, far removed from urban and industrial areas and away from local emissions; avoid locations which are subject to locally enhanced formation of near-ground inversion conditions, also summits of higher mountains; coastal sites with pronounced diurnal wind cycles of local character are not recommended by Directive 2002/3/EC