A microwave-scattering-based resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization technique is used to detect molecular species such as NO, CO, Xe, and Ar in pure form, and for standoff detection of trace species in atmospheric pressure air. In this paper,the spectra, dynamics, and the detection limits of trace species in air are studied. We demonstrate 10 m scale standoff detection of NO, and show that the system has a linear response down to the parts in 10(9) NO levels in ambient air.