Helena Joyce
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, is one of the most-visited national parks in the US. The park's name is derived from the ever-present blue mist produced by creeks, rivers, and native vegetation in the area. However, in recent years, the Smokies have been plagued by air pollution, primarily from human activities outside the park, such as the burning of fossil fuels, motor vehicles, agriculture, and industrial sites. This pollution has degraded the park's resources, threatened the health of plants, animals, and people, and impaired the views. While there have been efforts to improve air quality and some success in reducing pollution, the Great Smoky Mountains still struggle with pollution issues, making it one of the most polluted national parks in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution sources | Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), motor vehicles, agriculture, development, coal-burning power plants, industrial sites, and urban areas |
| Pollutants | Nitrogen, sulfur, ground-level ozone, fine particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, sulfates, nitrogen oxides |
| Impact on environment | Degraded park resources, reduced visitor enjoyment, harm to natural resources (streams, soils, forests, fish, wildlife), diminished water quality, harm to aquatic species and vegetation, reduced visibility |
| Health impact | Threatens human breathing and health, particularly for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and people with asthma |
| Pollution sources location | Outside the park, primarily in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast, including Tennessee, North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri |
| Pollution control efforts | National Park Service's work through science, policy, and planning; NPCA's efforts to improve air quality and shut down outdated coal plants; EPA's proposed new rules to address air pollution |
| Progress | Air quality has improved in recent years, with less acid rain, particulates, haze, and unhealthy days |
| Critical load thresholds | 3.1 kg-N ha-1 yr-1 for N-sensitive lichen species; 2.7 kg-S ha-1 yr-1 for S-sensitive lichen species |
| N-sensitive species | 35 tree species, 117 herbaceous species |
| S-sensitive species | 40 tree species, 90 herbaceous species |
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What You'll Learn
The Smokies' air pollution comes from outside the park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular tourist destination, known for its diverse wildlife and lush vegetation. However, the park faces a significant challenge: air pollution. While the park itself is a vast nature reserve, the surrounding areas include major cities and industrial zones, which contribute to the air pollution that affects the park.
The Smokies are often shrouded in a
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Nitrogen and sulfur compounds' harmful effects
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles North Carolina and Tennessee, is known for its high levels of air pollution. The burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, is the primary source of this pollution. The height and structure of the mountains, combined with weather patterns, trap and concentrate human-made pollutants in and around the park.
Nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) compounds are among the pollutants that have detrimental effects on the park's ecosystems and natural resources. Healthy ecosystems can tolerate a certain level of pollution, but once a threshold is crossed, negative changes occur. This threshold is known as the critical load, which refers to the amount of pollution above which harmful alterations in sensitive ecosystems take place.
Nitrogen and sulfur deposition impact ecosystems through eutrophication (increased nutrients in soil and water, leading to changes in species growth and community composition) and acidification. Different plant species exhibit varying degrees of tolerance to these processes, with some experiencing declines in growth, survival, or abundance. For instance, N-sensitive lichen species richness is negatively impacted when N deposition surpasses the critical load of 3.1 kg-N ha-1 yr-1 in the forested area of the park. Similarly, S deposition exceeding the critical load of 2.7 kg-S ha-1 yr-1 has adverse effects on S-sensitive lichen species richness.
Nitrogen and sulfur pollution have also infiltrated the soil and water sources in the park. This has resulted in diminished water quality and harmed aquatic species, such as brook trout. Furthermore, ground-level ozone, a byproduct of certain pollutants, has damaged sensitive plants like black cherry trees and cut-leaf coneflowers, causing them to stop thriving.
The National Park Service, along with organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association, is actively working to address these issues and improve air quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While progress has been made, with a reduction in acid rain, particulates, haze, and unhealthy days over the years, the fight against air pollution in the park remains ongoing.
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Air pollution's impact on epiphytic lichen communities
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee experiences some of the highest measured air pollution levels of any national park in the United States. The burning of fossil fuels, coal, oil, and gas, as well as motor vehicles and the airborne side effects of agriculture and development, are the primary contributors to this issue. The height and structure of the mountains, combined with weather patterns, trap and concentrate human-made pollutants in the area. This has degraded the park's resources and negatively impacted visitor experiences.
Lichens are highly sensitive to air pollution and can serve as good indicators of air quality. They absorb nutrients directly from the air, and without roots or a protective surface, they are unable to filter out pollutants. As a result, pollutants can accumulate in lichens and become toxic. This makes them useful for studying the impact of air pollution.
Epiphytic lichen communities in the Smoky Mountains have been significantly impacted by air pollution. Research conducted by McCoy et al. (2021) found that nitrogen (N) deposition exceeded the critical load necessary to protect nitrogen-sensitive lichen species richness in almost all of the forested areas of the park. Similarly, sulfur (S) deposition surpassed the critical load for sulfur-sensitive lichen species richness in a smaller but still significant portion of the forested area. These findings indicate that air pollution is negatively affecting the diversity and composition of lichen communities in the Smoky Mountains.
In addition to the work of McCoy et al., other studies have also examined the impact of air pollution on epiphytic lichen communities. For example, Sparrius (2007) investigated the response of lichen communities to decreasing ammonia air concentrations in the Netherlands. Their research found a rapid increase in nitrogen-sensitive lichen species and a corresponding decline in nitrogen-tolerant species. This further highlights the delicate balance between lichen communities and air pollution levels.
The National Park Service and other organizations are actively working to address the issue of air pollution in the Smoky Mountains. Through science, policy, and planning, they aim to improve air quality and protect the park's natural resources and visitor experiences. While progress has been made, continued efforts are necessary to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the park's ecosystems, including its epiphytic lichen communities.
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Visibility reduction and health risks for visitors
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, is one of the most-visited national parks in the US. The mountains were named for the ever-present "blue mist" produced by creeks, rivers, and native vegetation. However, in recent years, the soft blue haze has been replaced by an off-white haze caused by air pollution.
This haze, or smog, is made up of fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, which react with sunlight and heat to form ground-level ozone. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, is the primary cause of this pollution. While most of the pollution comes from outside the park, such as the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast, the height and structure of the mountains, combined with weather patterns, trap and concentrate these human-made pollutants.
The pollution has reduced visibility in the park, blocking scenic views. On clear days, visibility can be up to 110 miles, but during "severe haze episodes," it can be reduced to just 5 miles or less. This not only impacts the experience of visitors but also threatens the health of plants, animals, and people. Nitrogen and sulfur compounds deposited from the air can have harmful effects on ecosystems, and nitrogen and sulfur pollution have been shown to diminish water quality and harm aquatic species.
Some plant species, such as black cherry trees and cut-leaf coneflowers, have shown signs of damage from ground-level ozone, and nitrogen- and sulfur-sensitive tree and herbaceous plant species have declined in growth, survival, or abundance. The pollution also affects the health of park visitors, as ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter can threaten human health and breathing. While the air quality has improved in recent years, with the closure of some coal plants and the implementation of the Regional Haze Rule, pollution continues to be a problem, and the National Park Service is working to address its effects through science, policy, and planning.
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Efforts to improve air quality and combat pollution
The Smoky Mountains are experiencing some of the highest measured air pollution of any national park in the United States. The majority of the air pollution in the Smokies comes from outside the park, in the Midwest and Northeast, as well as the greater Southeastern region. The burning of fossil fuels, coal, oil, and gas, by over 70 coal-powered plants and other pollution-producing facilities, is the main cause of this pollution.
The National Park Service (NPS) works to address air pollution effects at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other parks across the US through science, policy, and planning. The NPS has been monitoring visibility in the park since 1988 and has documented significant improvements since the 1990s.
In the 1970s, momentum to improve air quality began at the federal level when Congress passed the Clean Air Act and its amendments, including the Class I visibility goals for 156 national parks and wilderness areas.
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and other groups are supporting the NPS in its efforts to combat pollution and improve air quality in the Smoky Mountains. Air quality specialist Jim Renfro, for example, travelled throughout the Southern Appalachian region in the 1990s and 2000s, educating communities about air quality issues and advising local, state, Tribal, and federal EPA professionals on creating and enforcing clean air standards.
Research and monitoring are also being conducted to better understand the impact of air pollution on the park's resources and visitor experiences. For instance, McCoy et al. (2021) used data from the National Land Cover Database to estimate the impact of air pollution on epiphytic lichen communities, while Horn et al. (2018) and Clark et al. (2019) developed critical loads of nitrogen and sulfur to prevent declines in growth or survival of sensitive tree and herbaceous plant species.
Overall, these efforts have led to improvements in air quality in the Smoky Mountains, with reductions in acid rain, particulates, haze, and unhealthy days. The modelling projected for the end of this decade shows that the air quality in the Smoky Mountains will continue to improve, with less haze and the return of the blue mist the mountains are named for.
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Frequently asked questions
The Smoky Mountains, which lie between Tennessee and North Carolina, are currently some of the most polluted national parks in the U.S. The air pollution consists of fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, which react with sunlight and heat to form ground-level ozone, or smog.
The Smoky Mountains are surrounded by over 70 coal-powered plants and other pollution-producing facilities, such as vehicles and industrial sites. The burning of fossil fuels—coal, oil, and gas—causes most of the pollution.
The National Park Service is working to address the effects of air pollution in the Smoky Mountains through science, policy, and planning. In 2013, the Tennessee Valley Authority began cleaning up and shutting down many of its outdated coal plants, resulting in better air quality in the Smoky Mountains. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and other organizations have also been instrumental in pushing for the proper implementation of the Regional Haze Rule, mandated by the Clean Air Act.
