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