Constraining Errors in Satellite Retrievals of Ozone Precursors Using Ground-Based Observations from AERONET and Pandora

Satellite retrievals of tropospheric ozone precursors, including NO2 and HCHO columns, have been increasingly used to constrain ozone production regimes. The application of these satellite data in a semi-arid region like Arizona, characterized by diverse anthropogenic and biogenic sources, seasonal variations, and frequent ozone exceedance days, holds significant potential. However, concerns remain regarding the reliability and uncertainty of these satellite observations. This study aims to estimate the errors in satellite retrievals of ozone precursors from TROPOMI and TEMPO for the summer months of June and July 2024 by examining the co-variability of satellite and ground-based tropospheric columnar NO2 and HCHO anomalies, along with aerosol measurements. Ground-based data from PANDORA (the Pandonia Global Network) and aerosol measurements from AERONET across Arizona were utilized. The primary objectives are to evaluate the performance of TROPOMI and TEMPO in retrieving tropospheric NO₂ and HCHO total columns over Arizona, quantify the errors in these retrievals, considering the complex interactions among ozone precursors, meteorological parameters, and aerosols and investigate the diurnal variation of Ozone chemical regime. The results of this study will enhance our understanding of ozone chemical regimes and may reveal potential regional transport signatures in this region.