Version 3.0B of the Berkeley High Resolution (BEHR) OMI NO 2 product is designed to accurately retrieve daily variation in the high spatial resolution mapping of tropospheric column NO 2 . To assess the product, we compare against in situ aircraft profiles and Pandora vertical column densities (VCDs). We also compare the WRF-Chem simulation used to generate the a priori NO 2 profiles against observations. We find that using daily NO 2 profiles improves the VCDs retrieved in urban areas relative to low resolution or monthly a priori by amounts that are large compared to current uncertainties in NO x emissions and chemistry (of order 10 % to 30 %). Based on this analysis, we offer suggestions to consider when designing retrieval algorithms and validation procedures for upcoming geostationary satellites.