The effect of increasing fossil fuel combustion in eastern Asia on surface
O-3 air pollution in the United States is examined with a global three-dime
nsional tropospheric chemistry model. Tripling of Asian anthropogenic emiss
ions from 1985 to 2010 is expected to increase monthly mean O-3 concentrati
ons by 2-6 ppbv in the western United States and by 1-3 ppbv in the eastern
United States, the maximum effect being in April-June. This increase would
more than offset the benefits of 25% domestic reductions in anthropogenic
emissions of NOx and hydrocarbons in the western United States. Asian influ
ence may be less under the stagnant conditions leading to violations of the
U.S. air quality standard. Nevertheless, our results suggest that a global
perspective is necessary when designing a strategy to meet regional O-3 ai
r quality objectives.