Ozone Effects to Plants ROMO

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Air Resources in Western National Parks
Chris Shaver Air Resources Division National Park
Service
WRAP Meeting Sept 13, 2006
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The public values
Our Lands, Our Legacy

• A natural environment, including clean, clear air
  
• Knowing that special areas have been set aside
  and that theyre being protected for future
  generations

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by network for 2005
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Visibility On a Path Toward Clearer Skies
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Air Quality Trends in National Parks, 1995-2004
FY2005 Annual Performance Report For NPS
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Air
Quality Goal Ia3
OLYMPIC
N. CASCADES
GLACIER
MT RAINIER
ISLE ROYALE
VOYAGEURS
ACADIA
T. ROOSEVELT
LITTLE BIGHORN
CRATER LAKE
YELLOWSTONE
CRATERS OF THE MOON
CAPE COD
BADLANDS
REDWOOD
LASSEN VOLCANIC
INDIANA DUNES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
POINT REYES
WASHINGTON, DC
GREAT BASIN
YOSEMITE
CANYONLANDS
SHENANDOAH
BRYCE CANYON
GREAT SAND DUNES
PINNACLES
Improving (plt0.05)
SEQUOIA
DEATH VALLEY
MESA VERDE
MAMMOTH CAVE
GRAND CANYON
Degrading (plt0.05)
CAPULIN VOLCANO
GREAT SMOKY MTS
BUFFALO
PETRIFIED FOREST
COWPENS
JOSHUA TREE
BANDELIER
CHANNEL ISLANDS
No Trend / Stable
TONTO
GILA CLIFF
No Data / Insufficient Data
CONGAREE
ORGAN PIPE
SAGUARO
CHIRICAHUA
GUADALUPE MTS
Ozone
CHAMIZAL
Visibility-Clear Days
BIG BEND
DENALI
Visibility-Hazy Days
Sulfate in Precipitation
EVERGLADES
Nitrate in Precipitation
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Ammonium in Precipitation
12/02/2005
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Annual 4th Highest daily maximum 8-hour average
0zone (ppb)
2005
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Downward pointing arrows denote trends toward
decreasing ozone concentrations and improving air
quality. Similarly, the up arrows correspond to
trends toward higher ozone concentrations and
hence worsening air quality. Park names
underlined in red denote parks where monitored
ozone levels exceed the level of the NAAQS or are
part of an ozone non-attainment area.
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Ozone Effects to Vegetation
Ozone-injured leaf
Normal leaf

• How does ozone affect sensitive species?
• - Visible symptoms
• - Physiological symptoms
• Reduced photosynthesis
• Reduced growth
• - Acute vs. chronic injury

Aspen
Ponderosa pine
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Threshold for ozone Injury exceeded in most parks
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NITROGEN Too Much of a Good Thing
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Wet Nitrate Deposition and Trends
2-3 KG/HA (NO3) (0.4-0.6 OF N)
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Wet Ammonium Deposition and Trends
1 kg/ha (NH4) (0.8 N)
Christopher M.B. Lehmanna, Van C. Bowersoxa,
Susan M. Larsonb
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Rocky Mountain National Park Nitrogen Deposition
Effects on Park Ecosystems

• 20 yr research 80 published studies on
  nitrogen deposition and impacts at ROMO (by USGS
  researchers Baron, Campbell and others)
• Nitrogen contributes to ozone, visibility
  impairment, and deposition that are altering the
  natural ecosystems and enjoyment of the park
• Nitrogen is increasing and impacts are increasing
• Nitrogen impacts have been documented to soils,
  waters, vegetation in high elevation areas on the
  east side of the park.

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Ecosystem Thresholds and Critical Loads

• Critical Loads is a term used to describe
• Has air pollution reached a tipping point
  (threshold) for effects on plants, animals,
  soils, or water?
• What amount of N or S deposition causes that
  tipping point?

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Rocky Mountain National Park Continuum of
Impacts to Ecological Health
Current N deposition in Rocky Mountain NP
N Load (kg/ ha /yr)- wet
3.1 kg/ha/yr
1.5 kg/ha/yr
weight of evidence of ecosystem health decline
on east side of park
Natural background N deposition
0.5 kg/ha/yr
Effects on aquatic animals (episodic
acidification)
Forest decline (acidification effects on trees)
Changes in soil water chemistry
Surface water N saturation
Changes in tree chemistry
Change in aquatic plant species composition
Lethal effects on fish, other aquatic animals
(chronic acidification)
Change in alpine plant species
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Elevated N in spruce tree needles
Reverse the Trend
Future Consequences? If nitrogen continues to
accumulate in high elevation soils at current
rates, acidification could occur within decades
Actions NPS is currently working with EPA and
the State of Colorado to develop a plan to reduce
nitrogen deposition to the park to levels
protective of sensitive aquatic and terrestrial
plants, soils, waters

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Scientific Approaches to Develop Critical Loads

• NPS research on sensitive receptors and endpoints
  ongoing at
• Rocky Mountain NP, Glacier NP, Yellowstone NP,
  Grand Teton NP, Great Sand Dunes NP
• Shenandoah NP, Great Smoky Mountains NP
• Mount Rainier NP, North Cascades
• Big Bend NP, Joshua Tree NP
• Modeling being tested at
• Rocky Mountain, Great Smoky, Mt Rainier, Acadia
  and Joshua Tree
• Other FLMs also conducting empirical studies and
  modeling to establish critical loads

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Climate Change Resources at Risk

• Physical Effects
• Alteration of climate patterns
• Precip pattern change
• Snowpack decline
• Glaciers melt
• Oceans warm
• Air pollution increase
• Ecological Effects
• Plants flower sooner
• Birds nest earlier
• Migration patterns change
• Loss of synchrony between predator prey
• Pests survive at higher elevations
• Pathogens spread
• Altered aquatic and terrestrial communities

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Climate Friendly Park Emission Inventories
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Burial Lake, NOATAK National Preserve
Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project
WACAP GOAL TO ASSESS THE DEPOSITION OF AIRBORNE
CONTAMINANTS IN WESTERN NATIONAL PARKS,
PROVIDING REGIONAL AND LOCAL INFORMATION ON
EXPOSURE, ACCUMULATION, IMPACTS AND PROBABLE
SOURCES
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Key Scientific/Ecological Questions
1.) Are contaminants present in western National
Parks?   2.) Where do contaminants accumulate
(ecologically and geographically)?   3.) Which
contaminants pose the greatest ecological
threat?   4.) Which indicators are the most
useful in interpreting contamination?   5.)
What are the probable sources of the air masses
most likely to have transported contaminants to
the National Park sites?
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National Parks Selected for Inclusion in the WACAP
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Lake Water
Dissolved and Particulate Summer
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Dark Night Skies A Diminishing Resource
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Quantitative Measurement with a Camera
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A billboard, seen from the side.
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