The use of ambient data to corroborate analyses of ozone control strategies

Data from environmental-chamber studies and photochemical box-model simulations were used to evaluate and revise a method for developing a qualitative understanding of the sensitivity of ozone formation at a particular time and place to changes in concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The revised method requires measurements of ozone, NO, and either NOx or NOy. The sensitivities of the method to biases in measurements were evaluated. The method potentially can be used for qualitative assessment of VOC versus NOx limitation, comparison with the predictions of grid-based photochemical air-quality models, and evaluation of trends over time in the relative effectiveness of VOC versus NOx controls.