What's New List Serve Post Display
Below is the List Serve Post you selected to display.
arbcombo -- New Report -Warming climate means harsher smog season for California
Posted: 23 Jul 2010 16:17:30
Scientific study illustrates future ‘climate penalty’ for air pollution cleanup efforts. Release #:10 - 45 Date:07/21/2010 SACRAMENTO - In a new report released by the Air Resources Board, scientists from the University of California at Davis and Berkeley estimate that rising temperatures from climate change will increase ozone levels in California’s major air basins. The study also predicts that peak concentrations of dangerous airborne particles will increase in the San Joaquin Valley due to the effects of climate change on wind patterns. "We already know that climate change will bring us increased forest fires, shorter winters, hotter summers and impact our water supply,” said Mary D. Nichols, ARB chairman. “Now we have scientific evidence that higher temperatures are hurting our lungs, too. To protect public health, we need to take cost-effective measures to slash greenhouse gases now and continue to ratchet down all sources of smog-forming emissions and harmful soot and particles” -- NOTE: Online version of this press release has a graphic that illustrates the study’s expected ozone changes in the South Coast region due to climate change. Areas in orange and red could see ozone concentrations elevated by nine to 18 parts per billion. Online version is available here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=145 -- The new study provides evidence of what is becoming known as the ‘climate penalty’, where rising temperatures increase ground level ozone and airborne health-damaging particles, despite the reductions achieved by programs targeting smog-forming emissions from cars, trucks and industrial sources. Authors of the study found that California could experience as many as six to 30 more days with ozone concentrations that exceed federal clean-air standards, depending on the extent of increased temperatures and assuming criteria-pollutant emissions in California remain at 1990-2004 levels. "Our study reveals that climate change and regional air pollution are intertwined problems," said the study’s lead author, Dr. Michael J. Kleeman of U.C. Davis. "We must consider climate change and air pollution together as we plan for the future." The researchers predicted the effects of climate change on California regions by merging the results from large-scale global models with detailed models for the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley. These narrow-focused models utilize high-resolution information about the geography, meteorology and emissions of these areas. Failure in the future to reduce ozone and particulate matter levels to federally-required health-based levels could lead to the loss of transportation funds used by the state to maintain and develop roadways. On a positive note the study also found that climate change would decrease annual-average particulate-matter concentrations in coastal regions of the state. “California's interests are best served by taking a broad scientific view of climate change and air pollution together,” added ARB Research Division Chief, Bart Croes. “Programs to protect California’s public health from the linked threats of global warming and air pollution need the guidance of the best science available which is certainly exemplified by this study." To view the report go here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/apr/past/climate.htm . For more information on ozone go here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/aaqs/caaqs/ozone/ozone-fs.pdf. The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards. Office of Communications 1001 I Street, Sacramento CA 95814. Ph: (916) 322-2990 ARB PIO CONTACT: Dimitri Stanich 916-322-2825 dstanich@arb.ca.gov You are receiving this single arbcombo email because you are a subscriber to or have made a public comment to one or more of the following lists: cc, research.