Air Quality and Vegetation
Speakers:
Leonard Herr, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and
Brian Jorgenson, Boise City Forestry Unit
As parts of Idaho struggle with increasing levels of ground-level ozone, the relationship between air quality, and ozone in particular, and Idaho’s vegetation is receiving increased scrutiny. The relationship is two fold: vegetation impacts air quality and air quality impacts vegetation. Vegetation can impact ozone in a number of ways. For example, ground-level ozone is formed through a chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides in the presence of heat and strong sunlight. Certain types of vegetation give off VOCs (called “biogenic VOCs”), which lead to the formation of ozone. Unfortunately for Idaho, aromatic vegetation, such as sagebrush and pines, gives off the most VOCs. Conversely, many plants (particularly shade trees) also help improve air quality by removing air pollutants through respiration and deposition, and reducing energy usage and evaporative emissions by shading. Air quality can also negatively impact vegetation. High levels of ground-level ozone can impact a plant’s ability to conduct photosynthesis, and therefore to grow. This can impact Idaho’s agricultural yield. This presentation will look at both parts of the ozone/vegetation relationship and discuss ways in which people can have a positive impact on our air quality.
Tags: air-quality, VOC's
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