Technological advances have driven all aspects of Earth observation data, including improvements realized in sensor characteristics and capabilities, global data processing, near realtime monitoring, value-added products, and the distribution of global products. In particular, the growth of the World Wide Web is contributing to an increase in the global user base. The synergy of remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), Internet, and mobile phone technologies is revolutionizing the way in which satellite-derived information is archived and distributed to users. The Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), a NASA-funded application, is just one of many examples that illustrate the increasing ease with which Earth observation data are accessible to a broad range of users. This paper describes how the delivery of satellite-derived fire information has evolved over the last six years. By understanding user requirements and taking advantage of recent developments in areas such as information management, search, access, visualization, and enabling technologies, FIRMS has expanded the number and range of users that are able to access and utilize satellite-derived fire information. Specifically, we describe how satellite remote sensing and GIS technologies have been integrated to deliver MODIS active fire data to natural resource managers using Internet mapping services and customized e-mail alerts to users in more than 90 countries. We also describe how this web-based desktop application has been transitioned to a mobile service in South Africa to deliver fire information to field staff to warn of fires that may be potentially damaging to both natural resources and infrastructure.

Abstract. Multi-scale tracer and full-chemistry simulations with the STEM atmospheric chemistry model are used to analyze the effects of transported background ozone (O 3 ) from the eastern Pacific on California air quality during the ARCTAS-CARB experiment conducted in June, 2008. Previous work has focused on the importance of long-range transport of O 3 to North America air quality in springtime. However during this summer experiment the longrange transport of O 3 is also shown to be important. Simulated and observed O 3 transport patterns from the coast to inland northern California are shown to vary based on meteorological conditions and the O 3 profiles over the oceans, which are strongly episodically affected by Asian inflows. Analysis of the correlations of O 3 at various altitudes above the coastal site at Trinidad Head and at a downwind surface site in northern California, show that under long-range transport events, high O 3 air-masses (O 3 >60 ppb) at altitudes between about 2 and 4 km can be transported inland and can Correspondence to: M. Huang (mhuang1@engineering.uiowa.edu) significantly influence surface O 3 20-30 h later. These results show the importance of characterizing the vertical structure of the lateral boundary conditions (LBC) needed in air quality simulations. The importance of the LBC on O 3 prediction during this period is further studied through a series of sensitivity studies using different forms of LBC. It is shown that the use of the LBC downscaled from RAQMS global model that assimilated MLS and OMI data improves the model performance. We also show that the predictions can be further improved through the use of LBC based on NASA DC-8 airborne observations during the ARCTAS-CARB experiment. These results indicate the need to develop observational strategies to provide information on the three-dimensional nature of pollutant distributions, in order to improve our capability to predict pollution levels and to better quantify the influence of these Asian inflows on the US west coast air quality.

Abstract. Chronic high surface ozone (O 3 ) levels and the increasing sulfur oxides (SO x = SO 2 +SO 4 ) ambient concentrations over South Coast (SC) and other areas of California (CA) are affected by both local emissions and long-range transport. In this paper, multi-scale tracer, full-chemistry and adjoint simulations using the STEM atmospheric chemistry model are conducted to assess the contribution of local emission sourcesto SC O 3 and to evaluate the impacts of transported sulfur and local emissions on the SC sulfur budgetduring the ARCTAS-CARB experiment period in 2008. Sensitivity simulations quantify contributions of biogenic and fire emissions to SC O 3 levels. California biogenic and fire emissions contribute 3-4 ppb to near-surface O 3 over SC, with larger contributions to other regions in CA. During a longrange transport event from Asia starting from 22 June, highCorrespondence to: M. Huang (mhuang1@engineering.uiowa.edu) SO x levels (up to ∼0.7 ppb of SO 2 and ∼1.3 ppb of SO 4 ) is observed above ∼6 km, but they did not affect CA surface air quality. The elevated SO x observed at 1-4 km is estimated to enhance surface SO x over SC by ∼0.25 ppb (upper limit) on ∼24 June. The near-surface SO x levels over SC during the flight week are attributed mostly to local emissions. Two anthropogenic SO x emission inventories (EIs) from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are compared and applied in 60 km and 12 km chemical transport simulations, and the results are compared withobservations. The CARB EI shows improvements over the National Emission Inventory (NEI) by EPA, but generally underestimates surface SC SO x by about a factor of two. Adjoint sensitivity analysis indicated that SO 2 levels at 00:00 UTC (17:00 local time) at six SC surface sites were influenced by previous day maritime emissions over the ocean, the terrestrial emissions over nearby urban areas, and by transported SO 2 from the north through both terrestrial and maritime areas. Overall maritime emissions contribute Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. 3174 M. Huang et al.: O 3 and SO x study 10-70% of SO 2 and 20-60% fine SO 4 on-shore and over the most terrestrial areas, with contributions decreasing with inland distance from the coast. Maritime emissions also modify the photochemical environment, shifting O 3 production over coastal SC to more VOC-limited conditions. These suggest an important role for shipping emission controls in reducing fine particle and O 3 concentrations in SC.

Chronic ozone (O₃) problems and the increasing sulfur oxides (SO_x=SO₂+SO₄) ambient concentrations over South Coast (SC) and other areas of California (CA) are affected by both local emissions and long-range transport. In this paper, multi-scale tracer and full-chemistry simulations with the STEM atmospheric chemistry model are used to assess the contribution of local emission sources to SC O₃ and evaluate the impacts of transported sulfur and local emissions on the SC sulfur budget during the ARCTAS-CARB experiment period in 2008. Sensitivity simulations quantify contributions of biogenic and fire emissions to SC O₃ levels. California biogenic and fire emissions contribute 3–4 ppb to near-surface O₃ over SC, with larger contributions to other regions in CA. Long-range transport from Asia is estimated to enhance surface SO₄ over SC by ~0.5 μg/sm³, and the higher SO_x levels (up to ~0.7 ppb of SO₂ and ~6 μg/sm³ of SO₄) observed above ~6 km did not affect surface air quality in the study region. Enhanced near-surface SO_x levels over SC during the flight week were attributed mostly to local emissions. Two anthropogenic SO_x emission inventories (EIs) from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are compared and applied in 60 km and 12 km chemical transport simulations, and the results are compared with observations. The CARB EI shows improvements over the National Emission Inventory (NEI) by EPA, but generally underestimates surface SC SO_x by about a factor of two. Maritime (mostly shipping) emissions contribute to the high SO₂ levels over the ocean and on-shore, and fine SO₄ over the downwind areas is impacted by maritime sources. Maritime emissions also modify the NO_x-VOC limitations over coastal areas. These suggest an important role for shipping emission controls in reducing fine particle and O₃ concentrations in SC

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