Examining Ozone Production in the Permian Oil and Gas Basin Using Carlsbad Caverns National Park Measurements and Satellite Data

A study reveals that ozone production at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is highly sensitive to nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the Permian Basin's oil and gas (O&G) activity, with satellite data confirming a parallel increase in regional NO2 levels. Analysis of 2021 measurements showed O&G emissions as the dominant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), alongside aged biomass burning smoke. Modeling indicated that reducing NOx emissions would more effectively decrease ozone levels than targeting VOCs, though both measures could mitigate exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Satellite observations also highlighted a decline in the formaldehyde-to-NO2 ratio, further supporting NOx-sensitive ozone production linked to O&G activity.

Marsavin, A., Pan, D., Zhou, Y., Pollack, I. B., Sullivan, A. P., Sive, B. C., Prenni, A. J., Schichtel, B., Fischer, E. V., & Collett, J. L. (2026). Examining Ozone Production in the Permian Oil and Gas Basin Using Carlsbad Caverns National Park Measurements and Satellite Data. ACS ES&T Air, 3(9), 2348–2365. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.6c00159