Slower ozone production in Houston, Texas following emission reductions: evidence from Texas Air Quality Studies in 2000 and 2006

Abstract. Airborne measurements from two Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS) field campaigns have been used to investigate changes of ozone production in Houston, Texas, from 2000 to 2006, a period of major emission reduction measures for petrochemical and other sources. Simultaneous declines in nitrogen oxides (NO_x = NO + NO₂) and highly reactive volatile organic compounds (HRVOCs) were observed between the two periods. We simulate HO_x (OH and HO₂) and organic radicals with a box model, the Dynamically Simple Model of Atmospheric Chemical Complexity, constrained by available airborne observations. Parameters such as total radical production, total OH reactivity of VOCs and ozone production rate (OPR) are computed to characterize the change of ozone production between 2000 and 2006 in the Houston area. The reduction in HRVOCs led to a decline in total radical production by 20–50%. Ozone production rates in the Houston area declined by 40–50% from 2000 to 2006, to which the reduction in NO_x and HRVOCs made large contributions. Despite the significant decline in OPR, ozone production efficiency held steady, and VOC-sensitive conditions dominated during times of most rapid ozone formation, while the slow ozone formation continued to be NO_x-limited. Our results highlight the importance of a balanced approach of ongoing HRVOC controls with NO_x controls to further reduce O₃ levels in the Houston area.