The tropospheric profile and column abundance of No2and related species represent a key focal point of manycurrent and future satellite missions dedicated to air quality,e.g. those undertaken within the context of the CopernicusEarth observation programme. As these data setsare acquired at different overpass times, photo-chemicalchanges and potentially also changes in biogenic and anthropogenicemissions will affect any data set intercomparison.To support the validation and synergistic use ofthese data sets, an in-depth characterization of this diurnalcycle is presented, both from a modelling perspective,using IMAGESv2 CTM data, and using ground-basedMAX-DOAS measurements.