Urban ecosystem services: Tree diversity and stability of tropospheric ozone removal

In this study, 30 x 30 m LandSat imagery of Rome, Italy, was used to classify urban forest cover into three functional groups (evergreen and deciduous broadleaved and coniferous). Hourly ozone data from 2003 and 2004 (years with different climate and air pollution conditions) were modeled using GIS and spatial analysis. Ozone uptake was significantly different among the functional groups in the two years, both across time and space. The total ozone uptake did not differ significantly, however, indicating that the urban forest diversity increased the functional stability of this ecosystem service.