Avon Lake Ground Ozone Learning Garden
Explore Avon Lake's air quality in real time. See Ground Ozone readings updated every 2 hours in the graph below. These readings, along with plant observations and daily NASA satellite data, help us understand the air we breathe.
What you're looking at
Ground-level ozone forms when sunlight reacts with vehicle and industrial emissions. Unlike the protective ozone layer high in the atmosphere, ground-level ozone is a pollutant — and Avon Lake's Ozone Garden measures it where it actually affects people and plants.
The sensor outside the Library samples the air and uploads a reading every two hours. Good air quality (below 0.054 PPM) supports healthy plant growth and comfortable outdoor activity. Readings above 0.070 PPM can affect sensitive groups and cause visible leaf damage in ozone-sensitive plants.
The Ozone Garden plants growing next to the Children's Department serve as living indicators — their leaves often show signs of elevated ozone before any sensor alarm would fire.
Why It Matters
Ground‑level ozone affects plant health, ecosystems, and the air we breathe. The Ozone Garden located off of the Children's Department helps our community see these changes firsthand and understand how everyday choices can support cleaner air.
How the Ozone Garden Works
Plants as Indicators
Ozone‑sensitive and ozone‑tolerant plants grow side by side. Their leaves show early signs of changing air quality.
Weekly Observations
Students, high school teachers, and members of the Avon‑on‑the‑Lake Garden Club record plant health, height, and leaf changes. These observations are shared with the national Ground Ozone Garden Network.
Real‑Time Monitoring
An ozone sensor outside the Library measures local air quality every two hours.
Satellite Science
A NASA satellite passes overhead daily, adding a global atmospheric view to our local measurements.
Community Learning
Exhibits, youth activities, and seasonal programs help visitors understand how ground‑level ozone affects our environment.
Additional Reading Information
Last 24 Hours
Project Partners & Support
The Avon Lake Ground Ozone Learning Garden is a collaborative project of:
Data Sharing & Research
Data from the garden is shared with the Smithsonian and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), organizers of the National Ozone Garden Network, who work with NASA on atmospheric research.
Funding
This site is made possible through generous support from:
