Investigating the Impact of the North American Summer Monsoon on Surface Ozone in El Paso, Texas

An analysis of the days which record the highest levels of surface ozone in El Paso, Texas shows a seasonal variability coincident with the typical onset of the North American Summer Monsoon. Over 50 ozonesondes were launched in El Paso as part of the 2017 El Paso Ozone Transport Field Study. These launches, in conjunction with the Continuous Ambient Monitoring Station (CAMS) network maintained by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), are used to identify features of the North American Summer Monsoon and its impact on surface ozone levels in El Paso. A study of the meteorological setup for high ozone days in El Paso, a comparison to a typical monsoonal setup, and the potential impacts on surface ozone levels is presented.