Tropospheric ozone is the pollutant of greatest concern.
Understanding pollutant-induced effects on individual tree species, forest communities, and ecosystem processes is essential for providing a scientific database for our National Ambient Air Quality Standards as administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Forest studies involve development of survey techniques for evaluating foliar injury on ozone-sensitive forest species inclusive of efforts to identify potential bioindicators for this regionally important air pollutant. Open-top chamber facilities have been located at forested sites to permit evaluation of seedlings grown in filtered air for comparison to sapling and mature canopy tree responses growing under ambient conditions of pollutant exposures. Pre-visual physiological response measures are monitored throughout the growing seasons for later comparisons to eventual foliar injuries within the various trees and conditions of exposure. Laboratory and greenhouse facilities inclusive of a continuously stirred tank reactor exposure chamber are available for controlled exposure response investigations.