Comparing i-Tree modeled ozone deposition with field measurements in a periurban Mediterranean forest

• O3 fluxes were estimated by i-Tree model in a periurban Mediterranean forest.
• The estimates were compared with Eddy Covariance measurements.
• The comparison showed a general agreement between predicted and measured O3 fluxes.
• Variations of the m factor in the Ball Berry formula, produced better estimates.

Ozone flux estimates from the i-Tree model were compared with ozone flux measurements using the Eddy Covariance technique in a periurban Mediterranean forest near Rome (Castelporziano). For the first time i-Tree model outputs were compared with field measurements in relation to dry deposition estimates. Results showed generally a good agreement between predicted and measured ozone fluxes (least sum square = 5.6 e−4) especially when cumulative values over the whole measurement campaign are considered. However at daily and hourly time-step some overestimations were observed in estimated values especially in hot dry periods. The use of different m values in the Ball–Berry formula in the different periods, produced the best fit between predicted and measured ozone fluxes. This suggests that a variable value for the coefficient m accounting for water availability may be appropriate to improve model estimates for Mediterranean and drought prone regions.