California Air Resources Board

Project Summary:

Previous studies have suggested that controlling emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) could be an effective way to reduce harmful surface ozone (O3) levels in California. However, to be more certain about this, we need to directly measure how much O3 changes when we alter the amounts of NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air.

In this project, we'll use research chambers to do these measurements during the summer in the South Coast Air Basin in California. By observing how O3 levels respond to changes in NOx and VOCs, we can create charts that show the most likely changes in O3 levels. This will be the first time we have solid, real-world data to compare with our computer models, helping us make better decisions about how to control O3 pollution.