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The Net Effects of Vegetation on Air Quality

The Net Effects of Vegetation on Air Quality. June 28, 2001. Vegetation and Air Quality. How do plants affect air quality? What are we doing? What information do we need? What can individuals do?. Vegetation and Air Quality. How do plants affect air quality? What are we doing?

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The Net Effects of Vegetation on Air Quality

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  1. The Net Effects of Vegetation on Air Quality June 28, 2001

  2. Vegetation and Air Quality • How do plants affect air quality? • What are we doing? • What information do we need? • What can individuals do?

  3. Vegetation and Air Quality • How do plants affect air quality? • What are we doing? • What information do we need? • What can individuals do?

  4. Effects of Vegetation on Air Quality Cooling Deposition VOC Emissions Allergens

  5. Sacramento TemperaturesJune 29, 1998, 1 p.m. Rail Yard Capitol Source: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center and Global Hydrology and Climate Center

  6. Cooling Improves Air Quality • Reduces evaporative emissions • Reduces power generation emissions • Slows photochemical reactions

  7. Plants Remove Some Pollutants • Atmospheric mixing controls removal of highly reactive gases • PM size, meteorological variables, shapes of surfaces • Plants increase removal of O3 and NO2 • Leaf area, open stomata

  8. Ozone Deposition (approximate pounds per acre per day in July) • Dry rangeland ~0.01 - 0.04 • Vineyard ~0.1 - 0.4 • Orchard ~0.1 - 0.6 • Cotton ~0.2 - 0.6

  9. BVOC Emissions (approximate pounds (isoprene + monoterpenes) per acre per day in July) • Avocado ~0.0 • Vineyard ~0.0001 • Cotton or Orange ~0.02 • Valley Oak ~0.09 • Pine or Lemon ~0.2 • Tomato ~0.7 • Coast Live Oak ~1.3

  10. Challenges to Estimating BVOC Emissions • Emission rates vary by 10,000 times • Estimating emissions for 6,000 species • Leafy biomass • Species maps to locate high emitters

  11. Vegetation Classes Source: GAP Database

  12. Leaf Area in California July October

  13. Hourly EmissionsAugust 3-7, 1997 Aug 3 Aug 4 Aug 5 Aug 6 Aug 7 99 F 99 F 106 F 103 F 93 F Emissions: Greater Southern California (SCOS97 - NARSTO Domain) Maximum daily temperature: Azusa

  14. Allergens and Their Effects • Allergens • Pollens (grasses, weeds, trees) • Molds, pets, insects, dust mites • Responses • Itchy eyes, rhinitis • Asthma • Allergy a factor for 90% of asthmatics Elm Pollen Elm Pollen

  15. Key Question:Can we accurately predict the effects of trees and vegetation on air quality?

  16. Net Effects on Air Quality • Effects depend on species, placement • BVOCs important part of inventory • Low emitters can reduce ozone • High emitters can increase ozone

  17. Vegetation and Air Quality • How do plants affect air quality? • What are we doing? • What information do we need? • What can individuals do?

  18. Current Efforts • Cooling and air quality - LBNL • Deposition study collaboration • Active biogenic research program • Biogenic Working Group • Allergen/pollutant interactions • Outreach

  19. Outreach Organizations • Sacramento Tree Foundation • TreePeople • Municipal Utility Districts • California ReLeaf • California Urban Forests Council

  20. Vegetation and Air Quality • How do plants affect air quality? • What are we doing? • What information do we need? • What can individuals do?

  21. Information Gaps • Improve plant species inventory • Measure biogenic emissions • Improve deposition models • Model effects of local cooling

  22. Vegetation and Air Quality • How do plants affect air quality? • What are we doing? • What information do we need? • What can individuals do?

  23. Tree Planting Guidelines • Place trees for lower energy use • First plant areas with low coverage • Deciduous trees shade south, west sides • Close to buildings • Large trees • Do not block summer breezes • Conifers for winter wind protection • Choose low emitters of BVOCs • Avoid species that release allergens

  24. Desirable and Undesirable Trees for Air Quality Low BVOCs High BVOCs Sawleaf Zelkova Liquidambar http://selectree.cagr.calpoly.edu/

  25. Other Benefits of Vegetation • Energy use • Comfort • Watershed health • Neighborhood benefits

  26. Conclusions • Cooling lowers emissions • Cooling slows chemical reactions • Plants remove some pollutants • Plants emit precursor pollutants • Low-emitting plants have many benefits

  27. Thank You

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