Toward the next generation of air quality monitoring: Ozone

Dramatic changes in the global distribution of energy production and consumption have led to critical air quality challenges for developing and developed countries. The role of air quality constituents such as ozone in climate forcing require mitigation strategies that encompass more than short-term exposure. Advances are highlighted in the three essential elements of modern ozone air quality monitoring: observations, models, and assimilation. To meet the challenges of air quality and climate, a case is made that a next generation ozone air quality monitoring system can be built around a new generation of low-earth orbiting and geostationary satellites with the potential to estimate near surface ozone. A set of recommendations needed for this system to address global air quality and climate are made. The policy implications of such an international ozone AQ monitoring are considered in light of recent international initiatives.