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Abstract. As part of the Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution (HTAP; http:// www.htap.org) project, we analyze results from 15 global and 1 hemispheric chemical transport models and compare these to Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNet) observations in the United States (US) for 2001. Using the policy-relevant maximum daily 8-h average ozone (MDA8 O3) statistic, the multi-model ensemble represents the observations well (mean r2=0.57, ensemble bias = +4.1 ppbv for all US regions and all seasons) despite a wide range in the individual model results. Correlations are strongest in the northeastern US during spring and fall (r2=0.68); and weakest in the midwestern US in summer (r2=0.46). However, large positive mean biases exist during summer for all eastern US regions, ranging from 10–20 ppbv, and a smaller negative bias is present in the western US during spring (~3 ppbv). In nearly all other regions and seasons, the biases of the model ensemble simulations are ≤5 ppbv. Sensitivity simulations in which anthropogenic O3-precursor emissions (NOx + NMVOC + CO + aerosols) were decreased by 20% in four source regions: East Asia (EA), South Asia (SA), Europe (EU) and North America (NA) show that the greatest response of MDA8 O3 to the summed foreign emissions reductions occurs during spring in the West (0.9 ppbv reduction due to 20% emissions reductions from EA + SA + EU). East Asia is the largest contributor to MDA8 O3 at all ranges of the O3 distribution for most regions (typically ~0.45 ppbv) followed closely by Europe. The exception is in the northeastern US where emissions reductions in EU had a slightly greater influence than EA emissions, particularly in the middle of the MDA8 O3 distribution (response of ~0.35 ppbv between 35–55 ppbv). EA and EU influences are both far greater (about 4x) than that from SA in all regions and seasons. In all regions and seasons O3-precursor emissions reductions of 20% in the NA source region decrease MDA8 O3 the most – by a factor of 2 to nearly 10 relative to foreign emissions reductions. The O3 response to anthropogenic NA emissions is greatest in the eastern US during summer at the high end of the O3 distribution (5–6 ppbv for 20% reductions). While the impact of foreign emissions on surface O3 in the US is not negligible – and is of increasing concern given the recent growth in Asian emissions – domestic emissions reductions remain a far more effective means of decreasing MDA8 O3 values, particularly those above 75 ppb (the current US standard).

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A suite of gas phase and aerosol measurements were made during spring 2008 at the summit of Mount Bachelor (2763 m asl), located in central Oregon. Here we focus on observations of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) for the period of 3 April to 18 June 2008. During this period, PAN mixing ratios ranged from below detection limit to 527 pptv, with a campaign mean of 119 pptv. Our analysis indicates that the variability in PAN was predominantly a function of synoptic scale processes. Three plumes containing elevated PAN were analyzed in detail. Two of these plumes were of Asian origin, and one was associated with North American sources. The Asian plumes were observed on 17–18 April and 12–13 May. Both were associated with elevated PAN, CO, O3, and aerosol scattering (σsp). The relationship between PAN and O3 varied with air mass temperature within the 17–18 April plume, and we exploited this to derive an O3 production efficiency per unit of PAN decomposed of 51–73 mol mol−1. The second Asian plume (12–13 May) was more dilute, characterized by lower CO and σsp. This event had a larger PAN/CO slope, consistent with relatively colder subsidence as calculated by trajectories. We traced the pathways of the plumes using a global chemical transport model (GEOS‐Chem) alongside trajectories to show that the plumes crossed the Pacific at different rates and following different routes. The plume observed on April 17–18 traveled over the great circle, while the later plume took a slower more southern path across the Pacific.