Abstract
Ambient air quality (AQ) is an environmental and socio-economic issue
increasingly decisive in the sustainable development of a territory. At
low density territories of Continental Portugal, a good AQ can
contribute to the development of various sectors of activity like health
and wellness tourism and organic farming, affecting positively the
socio-economic situation. The main goal of this study was to build
information on ozone concentration in ambient air for the present and on
a climate change scenario. The territory case study – the “cerne do
Entre-Norte-e-Centro”–, consists of seven municipalities: Aguiar da
Beira, Castro Daire, Moimenta da Beira, Sátão, Sernancelhe, Tarouca and
Vila Nova de Paiva. Geographically it belongs to the North and Centre of
Mainland Portugal (NUTS II) and the Douro and Dão-Lafões subregions
(NUTS III). In this area (151.195 hectares) there is not any station of
AQ monitoring. Data provided by the Portuguese Air Quality Network was
analysed to determine the spatio-temporal evolution of different
pollutants covered by actual Portuguese legislation, with special focus
on ozone and nitrogen dioxide. This information was compared with the
data provided by Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. It was build
hazard and vulnerability charts as well as the chart of risk to the
territory under study. This knowledge will improve the decision-making
process in terms of public politics. In addition it contributes to an
increased visibility and attractiveness of this area, as a tourism
destination through environmental differentiation in this endogenous
resource.