Submitted by: Prakhar Upadhyay(29) Neelam Meena(25) Prashasti Godhara(30) Piyush Parashar(27) Ponnuru Kanaka Teja(28)

The Great Smoky Mountains are a mountain range rising along the TennesseeNorth Carolina border in the southeastern United States. The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park was established in 1934, and, with over 9 million visits per year, it is the most-visited national park in the United States. Along with the Biosphere reserve, the Great Smokies have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name "Smoky" comes from the natural fog that often hangs over the range and presents as large smoke plumes from a distance.

Visibility now is dramatically reduced by smog from both the Southeastern United States and the Midwest, and smog forecasts are prepared daily by the Environmental Protection Agency for both nearby Knoxville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina

Monitoring and research has shown that airborne emissions of sulfur and nitrogen from a variety of sources, both near and far, when mixed with the fog of the mountains causes smog formation which degrades park resources and causes:
1.Ozone pollution-public health (respiratory) and forests; 2.Acid deposition-harms streams and forests; 3.Particle pollution-impacts public health (pulmonary); 4.Regional Haze-impairs scenic vistas

Power Plants Non-Road Area Highway Industry

Power plants Industry Highway Area Non-Road

1.Nox +VOCs+ Light+ Heat

Ozone

2.Nox Nitrates =Acid rain , fine particles , haze 3.SO2 haze Sulfates =Acid rain , fine particles ,

Others emissions of concern: mercury, ammonia, carbon

High pressure and frequent air stagnation events; Sunlight and heat that increases chemical reactivity; Elevation and topography, higher winds, more clouds; Rainfall and humidity which enhances deposition & haze; Organic emissions from trees (isoprene); Low buffering capacity in streams & acid soils; Old-growth, slow growing forests (less N demand)

Ground Level Ozone Pollution

Concerns with Public Health and Vegetation

OZONE

Ozone damage to ponderosa pine

Smog in the smokies

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Mostly ozone produced by photochemical oxidation of NOx in auto exhausts

NO + VOC + UV + O2

O3 + PAN

(Volatile Organic Carbon and PeroxyAcetyl Nitrate photochemical smog)

Knoxville

Area that exceeds or contributes to an area that exceeds the public health standard Stigma of a bad air area; Economic impact concerns; -Permitting major polluting industry more difficult; -Federal highway funds can be frozen or lost;

NOx RACT rule (low NOx burners) Gross polluter I&M (only smoking vehicles) Expanded Vehicle inspection and maintenance (I&M) Stage 1 vapor controls at gas stations Truck stop electrification (e g IdleAire at Watt Rd exit) Anti-tampering rule Retrofit diesel fleets (e.g. school buses) Open burning ban (e.g. slash piles, leaves) Reduction of interstate speed limits (55 mph) Smart trips/commuter choice programs Bus rider ship/transit Traffic flow improvements

Ozone levels below the health standard damages 30 species of plants by interfering with photosynthesis causing visible leaf injury, growth reductions, and species composition changes.

Ozone-Injured Tall Milkweed

ACID RAIN

Emissions from power plants

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Clingmans Dome, NC tree mortality(one of the smoky mountain peaks)

Adirondak stream of the Smoky Mountains - stream acidification, fish kill

Acid rain damage to forests and streams .

Dead trees at Clingmans dome, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (left)and Mt. Mitchell, NC (below). Initially attributed to acid rain, but mostly due to the Balsam woolly adelgid

Definitely unhealthy

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Acid deposition (H2SO4 and HNO3)

Increases and decreases many microbial processes - May provide input of biologically important nutrients (N and S). - May reduce soil-borne plant diseases.

- May decrease microbial activity by increasing acidity and creating toxic Al concentrations. - May decrease soil organic availability (flocculation of organic colloids) - May reduce microbial diversity, particularly mycorrhizal fungi - May reduce earthworm and enchytraeid populations
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EXCESS N DEPOSITION N SATURATION

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Excess N deposition in acid rain may also influence soil processes

Emphasis on the NE USA (>22 kg N ha-1 yr-1

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Effects of increased Nitrate deposition

Effects of increased Nitrate deposition on a Headwater stream in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Increased atmospheric deposition of nitrate from about 2 to 8 kg/ha/yr in 1994 to 1996 increased stream acidity and resulted in higher stream nitrate levels 27

Shaconage
Cherokee word for land of blue mist like smoke NOT Regional Haze

Viewing Scenery

is #1 reason 9-10 million visitors come to the Park annually and generate over $2 billion in revenues.

Unfortunately, vistas are obscured with haze 90% of the time.

11-15 miles
Wors t in US

70-120 miles Best in US

(% contribution of fine particles to summer haze)

Organics Carbon Soil Nitrates

Sulfates

Collected particles

Cleaner Vehicles
G Hybrids gas/electric vehicles (Toyota Prius) Electric utility vehicles in Cades Cove (TVA) Hybrid propane/electric buses (Clean Cities, DOE, City of Gatlinburg) Cades Cove transportation opportunities planning

Cleaner Fuels
--Bio-diesel with low NOx additive

Cleaner Electricity
green Power Switch (TVA and SCES Solar-power (park radio, air quality station, hot water heater at SVC)

Monitoring--provides status and trends Research--always room to understand more Education--increasing public awareness Partnerships--leveraging resources