Observational analysis reveals unprecedented surface ozone spikes in the U.S. Upper Midwest during early-season Canadian wildfires, highlighting severe air quality risks from transported smoke.
During summer 2023 Canada experienced its most intense wildfire season on record. Smoke plumes from these fires advected across the United States (U.S.) Upper Midwest, producing regional scale surface enhancements of PM 2.5 and ozone, as recorded by the U.S. surface monitoring network. These events are notable because they occurred early in the fire season (May 15‐June 30), and they produced the highest regional‐scale surface ozone levels ever recorded across the northern tier of the U.S. during early (May–June) or late (July‐August) summer. Specifically, the Upper Midwest 50th ozone percentile was greater than in any other year since 1995, when the ozone monitoring network had sufficient coverage to assess regional‐scale ozone levels; the 90th percentile was the highest since 2002. Satellite and aircraft measurements demonstrate the availability of ozone precursors and ozone production within the smoke plumes.
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