Satellite‐observed U.S. power plant NO x emission reductions and their impact on air quality
Nitrogen oxide (NO x ) emissions resulting from fossil fuel combustion lead to unhealthy levels of near‐surface ozone (O 3 ). One of the largest U.S. sources, electric power generation, represented about 25% of the U.S. anthropogenic NO x emissions in 1999. Here we show that space‐based instruments...
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Published in | Geophysical research letters Vol. 33; no. 22 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
01.11.2006
|
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Nitrogen oxide (NO
x
) emissions resulting from fossil fuel combustion lead to unhealthy levels of near‐surface ozone (O
3
). One of the largest U.S. sources, electric power generation, represented about 25% of the U.S. anthropogenic NO
x
emissions in 1999. Here we show that space‐based instruments observed declining regional NO
x
levels between 1999 and 2005 in response to the recent implementation of pollution controls by utility companies in the eastern U.S. Satellite‐retrieved summertime nitrogen dioxide (NO
2
) columns and bottom‐up emission estimates show larger decreases in the Ohio River Valley, where power plants dominate NO
x
emissions, than in the northeast U.S. urban corridor. Model simulations predict lower O
3
across much of the eastern U.S. in response to these emission reductions. |
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ISSN: | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
DOI: | 10.1029/2006GL027749 |