We analyze the simulation results from a CMAQ model and GOME-2 NO<sub>2</sub> retrievals over the United States for August~2009 to estimate the model-simulated biases of NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations over six geological regions (Pacific Coast = PC, Rocky Mountains = RM, Lower Middle = LM, Upper Middle = UM, Southeast = SE, Northeast = NE). By comparing GOME-2 NO<sub>2</sub> columns to corresponding CMAQ NO<sub>2</sub> columns, we produced satellite-adjusted NO<sub>x</sub> emission ("GOME2009") and compared baseline emission ("BASE2009") CMAQ simulations with GOME2009 CMAQ runs. We found that the latter exhibited decreases of −5.6%, −12.3%, −21.3%, and −15.9% over the PC, RM, LM, and SE regions, respectively, and increases of +2.3% and +10.0% over the UM and NE regions. In addition, we found that changes in NO<sub>x</sub> emissions generally mitigate discrepancies between the surface NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations of baseline CMAQ and those of AQS at EPA AQS stations (mean bias of +19.8% to −13.7% over PC, −13.8% to −36.7% over RM, +149.7% to −1.8% over LM, +22.5% to −7.8% over UM, +31.3% to −7.9% over SE, and +11.6% to +0.7% over NE). The relatively high simulated NO<sub>x</sub> biases from baseline CMAQ over LM (+149.7%) are likely the results of over-predictions of simulated NO<sub>x</sub> emissions, which could shed light on those from global/regional Chemical Transport Models. <br><br> We also perform more detailed investigations on surface NO<sub>x</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> concentrations in two urban and outflow areas, PC (e.g., Los Angeles, South Pasadena, Anaheim, La Habra and Riverside) and LM (e.g., Houston, Beaumont and Sulphur). From two case studies, we found that the GOME2009 emissions decreased surface NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations significantly in the urban areas of PC (up to 30 ppbv) and in those of LM (up to 10 ppbv) during the daytime and that simulated NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations from CMAQ with GOME2009 compare well to those of in-situ AQS observations. A significant reduction in NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations resulted in a comparable increase in surface O<sub>3</sub> concentrations in the urban areas of PC (up to 30 ppbv) and the resulting simulated O<sub>3</sub> concentrations compare well with in-situ surface O<sub>3</sub> observations over South Pasadena, Anaheim, and Riverside. Over Houston, Beaumont, and Sulphur, large reductions in NO<sub>x</sub> emissions from CMAQ with GOME2009 coincides with large reduced concentrations of simulated NO<sub>x</sub>. These concentrations are similar to those of the EPA AQS NO<sub>x</sub> observations. However, the resulting simulated increase in surface O<sub>3</sub> at the urban stations in Houston and Sulphur exacerbated preexisting high O<sub>3</sub> over-predictions of the baseline CMAQ. This study implies that simulated low O<sub>3</sub> biases in the urban areas of PC are likely caused by simulated high NO<sub>x</sub> biases, but high O<sub>3</sub> biases in the urban areas of LM cannot be explained by simulated high NO<sub>x</sub> biases over the region. This study also suggests that both in-situ surface NO<sub>x</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> observations should be used simultaneously to resolve issues pertaining to simulated high/low O<sub>3</sub> bias and that remote sensing data could be used as a constraint for bottom-up emissions. In addition, we also found that daytime O<sub>3</sub> reductions over the outflow regions of LM following large reductions in NO<sub>x</sub> emissions in the urban areas are significantly larger than they are over outflow regions of PC. These findings provide policymakers in the two regions with information critical to establishing strategies for mitigating air pollution.