Directly or indirectly, all of these species impact the formation of ozone. A particular feature of the model system used here is its comprehensive representation of atmospheric chemistry using the GEOS-Chem chemistry model, capturing 240 gaseous species that react with each other via 725 chemical reactions. These processes are captured in detail by NASA’s GEOS composition forecast (CF) system, which incorporates the latest scientific understanding of the physics and chemistry that guide the formation of ozone, along with measurements from satellites and other instrument platforms. At night, ozone is chemically destroyed in highly polluted environments, leading to very low nighttime concentrations over industrial areas such as Eastern China. Consequently, the highest concentrations of surface ozone can be found during daytime close to urban areas and in the vicinity of forest fires (e.g., Africa). The visualization starts with a global map of model predicted concentrations of surface ozone, a potent air pollutant that is chemically produced from hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides under the presence of sunlight. These chemicals undergo rapid changes as they are being emitted by natural and anthropogenic activities, transported by prevailing winds and vertical lifting motions, deposited to the surface, or chemically transformed.

Shown is a sequence of modeled surface concentrations of 96 chemical species during the time period Jto October 2, 2018. This visualization shows a computer simulation of the complexity of the chemical system of the atmosphere produced by NASA's GEOS modeling system with atmospheric chemistry. While tiny in abundance, these chemicals have an outsized impact on humans and the environment due to their reactivity and toxicity.

Earth’s atmosphere is mainly comprised of nitrogen and oxygen but also contains traces of hundreds of chemical compounds.

Surface latest model