Air Pollution over Navajo and Hopi Lands
Presented by Elisabeth A. Holland,
Senior Scientist, Atmospheric Chemistry Division, National
Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO
Co-recipient 2007 Nobel Peace Prize as Lead Author of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
NOx Emissions from Western US Power Plants
North Valmy
Intermountain
Hunter /Huntington
Mohave
Navajo Four Corners/San Juan
Cholla/Coronado/ Springerville
Bonanza
Craig/Hayden
Jim Bridger/Naughton
Dave Johnston/Laramie River
Colstrip
Reid Gardener
SCIAMACHY, Summer 2005S.-W. Kim et al., J. Geophys. Res., 2009
NOx Emissions from Western US Cities
Denver
Albuquerque / Santa Fe
El Paso
Boise
Salt Lake City
Reno
Sacramento
San Francisco
Fresno
Bakersfield
Los Angeles
Las Vegas
Phoenix
Tucson
SCIAMACHY, Summer 2005S.-W. Kim et al., J. Geophys. Res., 2009
What do these maps mean?
The air downwind of the Navajo Nation power generating stations as polluted as large western cities, including Phoenix, Salt Lake, Denver and Las Vegas.
Health ImpactsNO2 and health:
asthma; respiratory irritation; airway inflammation; headaches; pulmonary emphysema (chronically
reduced lung function); impairment of lung defenses; oedema of lungs; eye irritations; loss of
appetite;corrosion of teeth, and increased emergency room visits.
The most vulnerable groups are young children, asthmatics, as well as individuals with chronic bronchitis, emphysema or other chronic respiratory diseases.
Health Impacts, continued
Ozone and health: NO2 is a catalyst for ozone formation.
Reduction in lung function, asthma trigger and increased respiratory symptoms as well as respiratory
related emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and premature
deaths.
Health Impacts, continued
Small particles and health: small particles, like those generated by NO2 emissions,
penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease, such as emphysema and bronchitis and can aggravate existing heart disease, and obesity leading to increased hospital admissions and increased death
Human and Natural Drivers of Climate Change
coal
coal
Rising atmospheric temperature
Rising sea level
Reduction in NH snow cover
And……
Atmospheric water vapor increasing
Glaciers retreating
Arctic sea ice extent decreasing
Extreme temperatures increasing
………….
Many Changes Signal A Warming World
IPCC WG1 (2007)
What’s in the pipeline and what could comeWarming will increase if GHG increase. If GHG were kept fixed at current levels, a committed 0.6°C of further warming would be expected by 2100. More warming would accompany more emission.
1.8oC = 3.2oF
2.8oC = 5.0oF
3.4oC = 6.1oF
CO2 Eq
850
600
4000.6oC = 1.0oF
What does this mean for Black Mesa?Warmer TemperaturesMore Intense Rainfall
More DroughtsMore Dust storms
More extreme weather…
And
15.67 billion tons of coal in Black Mesa 3.5 ppm increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,
Increase in the carbon dioxide since the Long Walk is ~100 ppm
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