Greta Jimenez
Salt Lake City, Utah, is known for its poor air quality, which is caused by a combination of geographical factors and human activity. The city's unique geography, nestled among several mountain ranges, often leads to temperature inversions that trap cold air and pollutants, causing particulate pollution to increase. Human activities, such as emissions from vehicles, industry, and agriculture, as well as wildfires and the use of wood-burning fuels, further contribute to the city's air pollution. These factors have led to Salt Lake City being ranked among the nation's most polluted cities for ozone and short-term particle pollution, with sensitive groups such as children and the elderly being particularly at risk.
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What You'll Learn
Temperature inversions
The unique geography of Salt Lake City, nestled in the basin of the Wasatch, Oquirrh, and Traverse Mountains, exacerbates the effects of temperature inversions. The cold air becomes trapped in the Salt Lake Valley, and the city's air is shielded from strong winds that could otherwise help clear out the inversions. This geographical layout essentially acts as a barrier, further contributing to the accumulation of polluted air.
Inversions are more likely to occur in Salt Lake City after a snowstorm, as the snow cover contributes to the cold ground-level air. They also tend to happen shortly after dusk and throughout the night, when there is an absence of direct sunlight. While the inversions themselves are a natural occurrence, when combined with community emissions from various sources, they result in an unnatural buildup of hazardous pollutants.
The primary sources of emissions that contribute to the problem during inversions include gasoline and diesel vehicles, wood fires, industry, and agriculture. Older models of vehicles, particularly those powered by diesel, significantly add to the pollution levels. Residential burning of wood for home heating is another significant contributor, producing about 3000 times more pollution compared to homes heated with natural gas.
To address the issue of temperature inversions and reduce their impact on air quality, several measures can be implemented. These include restrictions on wood-burning fires, with fines imposed for violations, and encouraging the use of public transit, carpooling, and newer, cleaner fuel vehicles. Additionally, reducing vehicle idling and combining trips can also help lower emissions and mitigate the effects of temperature inversions on the city's air quality.
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Vehicle emissions
Mobile sources, including cars, semi-trucks, trains, buses, and airplanes, are the greatest source of emissions in the Wasatch Front region. On-road mobile sources account for about 39% of annual man-made pollution in the area, with nitrogen oxides (NOx), PM2.5 exhaust, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the primary pollutants. Despite comprising only 7.5% of vehicle miles travelled, heavy-duty diesel vehicles produce over 30% of mobile source pollution.
The high proportion of diesel vehicles in Salt Lake City's vehicle fleet significantly contributes to air pollution. Diesel engines emit particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are harmful to human health and the environment. Older diesel models, in particular, tend to have higher emissions due to less advanced technology and reduced fuel efficiency. Additionally, idling vehicles, especially those powered by gasoline and diesel, contribute to stagnant air and increased pollution levels.
To address vehicle emission-related air pollution, Salt Lake City has implemented anti-idling ordinances with fines of up to $210 for idling for more than two minutes. The city has also encouraged the use of public transit, carpooling, and newer, cleaner fuel vehicles. These measures aim to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and promote the adoption of lower-emission alternatives.
Furthermore, the unique topography of the region, characterized by its mountainous terrain, contributes to the accumulation of vehicle emissions near the surface. The combination of emissions from gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, especially older models, and the natural inversion phenomenon results in the trapping of pollutants in the valley, leading to poor air quality for residents.
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Industrial emissions
Salt Lake City's air quality is impacted by a combination of geographical factors and human activities, including industrial emissions. The city's location in a basin surrounded by mountains contributes to temperature inversions, where warm air traps cold, polluted air, preventing it from rising and dispersing. This natural phenomenon is exacerbated by industrial activities that release pollutants into the atmosphere.
The west side of Salt Lake City, in particular, has been identified as suffering from poor air quality due to the concentration of industrial facilities and emission sources in the area. Interstate highways, such as I-15, I-80, and I-215, run through this side of the city, bringing heavy-duty diesel vehicles and increased traffic, which contribute to air pollution. Additionally, the presence of industries, rail lines, warehouses, and the nearby Salt Lake City International Airport adds to the high level of industrial emissions in the area.
The airport, in particular, has been singled out as a significant contributor to air pollution, with jet engines revving and emitting pollutants into the atmosphere. The decision to locate factories and industrial facilities in this area, dating back to the 1890s, has had long-term consequences for air quality. Climate scientist Logan Mitchell highlights the importance of considering the impacts of industrial development on the environment and air quality over the next 100 to 150 years.
To address the issue of industrial emissions, Salt Lake City has implemented various measures. The city has internal operations and external policies in place to support air quality improvement and pollution reduction. Additionally, anti-idling ordinances have been enacted, discouraging the idling of gasoline and diesel vehicles, which are significant contributors to air pollution. These efforts demonstrate the city's commitment to mitigating the impact of industrial emissions on air quality and the health and well-being of its residents.
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Wildfires
The impact of wildfires on the air quality in Salt Lake City is sporadic and intense, and the pollution can reach urban areas hundreds to thousands of kilometers downwind. Researchers are concerned that the poor air quality caused by wildfires could worsen symptoms for those with respiratory illnesses and COVID-19.
In addition to wildfires, other sources of PM2.5 pollution in Salt Lake City include industrial and agricultural activities, power generation, transportation, and construction. The unique geography of the city, located in a basin surrounded by mountains, can trap cold air in the Salt Lake Valley and shield the city from winds that could otherwise help clear the air. This phenomenon is known as a temperature inversion and can cause particulate pollution to double daily.
To address the air quality issues in Salt Lake City, state agencies are developing emission control strategies to minimize public exposure to PM2.5 and comply with federal air quality standards. The city itself is also taking action to support air quality improvement and pollution reduction through internal operations and the creation of external policies and programs.
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Geography and climate
Salt Lake City's geography and climate play a significant role in its air pollution issues. The city is located in a basin surrounded by the Wasatch, Oquirrh, and Traverse Mountains. This unique geography leads to temperature inversions, particularly during winter. Normally, air temperature decreases with altitude. However, in Salt Lake City, cold ground-level air becomes trapped under a layer of warmer air during inversions, preventing the cooler air from rising and dispersing. This phenomenon acts as a "`lid`" on the Salt Lake Valley, causing particulate pollution to accumulate and double daily. The mountains further exacerbate this effect by shielding the city from winds that could otherwise help clear the inversions.
Inversions are more common in the winter due to the cold ground-level air, often following snowstorms or during the night. While inversions are natural, they become problematic when combined with community emissions from various sources. Gasoline and diesel vehicles, especially older models and heavy-duty diesel vehicles, significantly contribute to air pollution in the city. Wildfires, both within the state and from neighbouring states like California, Idaho, and Nevada, can also drastically reduce air quality in Salt Lake City by increasing PM2.5 levels.
The Great Salt Lake's shrinking has further impacted the city's air quality. The exposed dried lake bed has led to concerns about particulates and arsenic blowing off the lake into urban areas. Additionally, the city's location in the Salt Lake Valley, without the presence of large rivers, has influenced the concentration of emission sources. Interstate highways, industrial facilities, rail lines, and the Salt Lake City International Airport contribute to the air pollution, particularly on the west side of the city.
The climate in Salt Lake City also affects air quality. In the summer, pollution from vehicles, industry, and chemical products, combined with high temperatures and bright sunshine, lead to harmful ozone levels. The combination of emissions and favourable climatic conditions results in Salt Lake City experiencing unhealthy air pollution levels.
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Frequently asked questions
The unique geography of Salt Lake City, situated in a basin of mountains, can cause temperature inversions that trap cold air underneath a layer of warm air. This acts like a "lid" on the Salt Lake Valley, causing particulate pollution to double every day. Other factors include emissions from vehicles, industry, agriculture, and burning wood fuel for home heating.
The mountainous terrain of Salt Lake City can lead to temperature inversions, where cold ground-level air becomes trapped under warmer air above. This prevents the cooler air from rising and dispersing, causing polluted ground-level air to accumulate. The city's location shields it from winds that could otherwise clear out inversions.
Air pollution in Salt Lake City has been linked to increased respiratory-related health issues. Emergency room visits during pollution episodes in 2014 rose by 40%. The pollution is particularly harmful to sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and those with heart and lung diseases.
Salt Lake City is taking actions to support air quality and reduce pollution. Anti-idling ordinances have been implemented, and residents are encouraged to reduce vehicle emissions by carpooling and using public transit. There are also restrictions on burning wood fires, with fines for violations.
