Alaska Regional Haze Overview Division of Air Quality Alaska Department Of Environmental Conservation
Let's take a look at the nature of what causes visibility problems Let's take a look at the nature of what causes visibility problems. Air pollution causes haze. On the worst days, visitors can walk away disappointed because they cannot fully appreciate the view … its breadth, … and the full range of its vibrant colors. This slide of Denali shows the impact of smoke from fires on the vista.
Presentation Overview Analysis: Haze Characterization at Class I Areas Analysis: Transboundary Sources, Seasonal Patterns Reflections: What can’t we control? Summary: What do we need? Hi! For this session, I am going to give an overview on visibility concerns, the regional haze rule, and the Western Regional Air Partnership.
Analysis: Haze Characterization at Class One Areas Even areas that have few sources of air pollution—like Denali National Park—can be affected since air movement makes visibility problems spread elsewhere. Here in Alaska, some of the haze in national parks and wilderness areas originates far away. International transport from Russia and Asia plays a role in visibility impacts during certain times of the year.
Alaska has 4 Class I areas that are covered by the EPA Rule Alaska has 4 Class I areas that are covered by the EPA Rule. They are Denali National Park, Tuxedni Wilderness Area, Simeonof Wilderness Area, and the Bering Sea Wilderness Area. As you can see, the four areas are located far from each other. It may seem surprising that more of Alaska’s national parks are not included. This is due to the wording of the Clean Air Act. The Class I areas were designated prior to the formation of some of the Alaskan parks. Efforts to improve visibility in the four areas, should have collateral benefits in other areas as well. Just as a note, we are not intending to do much planning work for the Bering Sea Wilderness Area because of its remote location. In fact, it is so remote that we cannot regularly monitor for pollution at the area.
Regional Haze Impacts - Denali
Under the EPA rule, states are required to develop air quality plans (also called state implementation plans) that will make progress toward eliminating man made visibility impairment in Class I areas by 2064. This may sound like a long time, but it will take incremental progress in many areas of the country to meet this goal. The plans must improve visibility on the haziest days and maintain good visibility on the best days.
Regional Haze Impacts - Denali
Regional Haze Impacts - Denali
Regional Haze Impacts - Tuxedni
Regional Haze Impacts - Tuxedni
Regional Haze Impacts - Simeonof
Regional Haze Impacts - Simeonof
Analysis: Transboundary Sources and Seasonal Patterns
Arctic Haze Arctic Haze Air enters Alaska from the Arctic Occurs in winter Layered haze Characterized by sulfate, metals and light absorbing carbon
Asian Dust Air enters Alaska from Asia, especially China Occurs in spring Layered haze Characterized by soil elements and metals
Wildfire Smoke Wildfires in Alaska, Canada, and Siberia produce smoke that reaches the park Occurs in summer Layered or regional haze depending on the fires’ locations Characterized by potassium and organic and elemental carbon
Reflections: What can’t we control?
Under the EPA rule, states are required to develop air quality plans (also called state implementation plans) that will make progress toward eliminating man made visibility impairment in Class I areas by 2064. This may sound like a long time, but it will take incremental progress in many areas of the country to meet this goal. The plans must improve visibility on the haziest days and maintain good visibility on the best days.
Summary: What do we need? Even areas that have few sources of air pollution—like Denali National Park—can be affected since air movement makes visibility problems spread elsewhere. Here in Alaska, some of the haze in national parks and wilderness areas originates far away. International transport from Russia and Asia plays a role in visibility impacts during certain times of the year.
Modeling of emissions plumes and back trajectories Emissions from marine shipping Monitoring of transboundary sources Understanding of biogenic emissions- climate, fire, wetlands and land cover modeling Even areas that have few sources of air pollution—like Denali National Park—can be affected since air movement makes visibility problems spread elsewhere. Here in Alaska, some of the haze in national parks and wilderness areas originates far away. International transport from Russia and Asia plays a role in visibility impacts during certain times of the year.