Influence of wildfire smoke on ozone production chemistry in the Lake Michigan region
Acdan, J. J. M., Pierce, R. B., Pfister, G., Zhang, J.. (2026). Influence of wildfire smoke on ozone production chemistry in the Lake Michigan region.
| Title | Influence of wildfire smoke on ozone production chemistry in the Lake Michigan region |
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| Genre | Conference Material |
| Author(s) | Juanito Jerrold Mariano Acdan, R. B. Pierce, Gabriele Pfister, Jun Zhang |
| Abstract | In 2023, long-range transport of wildfire smoke from Canada led to degradations in air quality in the Lake Michigan region of the United States. To investigate the influence of this wildfire smoke on ozone (O3) production chemistry, we first conducted regional-scale Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) simulations driven by chemical boundary conditions with and without Canadian biomass burning emissions. Next, we used the integrated reaction rates (IRR) capability of WRF-Chem to estimate volatile organic compound (VOC) reactivity, diagnose nitrogen oxide (NOx) versus VOC sensitivity, and calculate net chemical O3 production from both Eulerian (local) and Lagrangian (following transport) perspectives. Results showed that the presence of wildfire smoke increases VOC reactivity and makes O3 production more NOx-sensitive throughout the day. Further evaluation revealed that net chemical O3 production was highest in the WRF-Chem simulation that did not include Canadian biomass burning emissions. However, actual O3 concentrations were higher in the WRF-Chem simulations that did include Canadian biomass burning emissions. This implies that wildfire-smoke-enhanced net chemical O3 production occurred further upwind of the Lake Michigan region, when the air masses were located over Canada. |
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| Publication Date | Jan 28, 2026 |
| Publisher's Version of Record | |
| OpenSky Citable URL | https://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7959p27 |
| OpenSky Listing | View on OpenSky |
| ACOM Affiliations | MODELING |