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Ozone Bio-monitoring Gardens

Ozone Bio-monitoring Gardens. Using students to monitor the effects of ground level ozone on select plant species. What is Ozone?. Ozone occurs naturally in the atmosphere where it protects our planet from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and us from cancer.

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Ozone Bio-monitoring Gardens

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  1. Ozone Bio-monitoring Gardens Using students to monitor the effects of ground level ozone on select plant species

  2. What is Ozone? • Ozone occurs naturally in the atmosphere where it protects our planet from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and us from cancer. • Ground level or “bad” ozone is an invisible gas and a poisonous form of oxygen. • In the Southern Appalachian mountains, 85% of the VOC’s come from natural sources.

  3. Sources of Ground Level Ozone Mobile sources are: • 33% Diesel • 30% SUV • 21% cars • 13% LD trucks • 3% HD trucks Area 2% Nonroad 23% Point 44% Mobile 32%

  4. Threshold of adequate lung function • Irritates and damages lung tissue • Decreases lung function

  5. IMPACT OF OZONE ON HEALTH • Worsens existing asthma • Causes new asthma • Worsens allergy symptoms • Increases respiratory infection rates • Increases overall death rates

  6. Green:No health warning Yellow:Very sensitive people may be affected Orange:Limit afternoon exertion if you are a member of a sensitive group Red:Avoid afternoon exertion if you are in a sensitive group; EVERYONE ELSE should limit afternoon exertion Purple:Reduce time and level of exertion even more then red category Source: North Carolina Division of Air Quality (July 2001)

  7. Changing Ozone Concentrations http://www.epa.gov/airnow/

  8. Clean Air Act • 1997 version reduced ambient (outside) ozone from 0.12 to 0.8 ppm. • On the color chart, greater than 0.80 ppm is code orange-- “Ozone Action Day” a day when people should limit outdoor activity, esp. in afternoon

  9. The Issue • Great Smoky Mountains NP receives more NOx and SOx then any other monitored site in North America. • Average acidity (pH) of rainfall in the park is 4.5, worse in higher elevations. • Average visibility in summer months is just 9 miles.

  10. Some Research in the Smokies • 1988 chamber study • 2001 to present: ground-level ozone effects study looking at how symptoms effect: • photosynthesis • respiration • growth • Effects on nutritional value for grazers

  11. The discoloration is between the veins Visible Ozone Effects • Discoloration • In early stages, symptoms are confined to the upper leaf surface. • Symptoms begin with older leaves. Uninjured Milkweed Injured Milkweed

  12. Ozone Bio-monitoring Gardens • Two sensitive species may be used to establish gardens • Genetic clones • Comparisons made between gardens regarding rate of symptoms Crown-beard Verbesina Occidentalis Cut-leaf Coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata

  13. Garden Data Collection • Measure the plant • Record total number of leaves. • Record whether in bud or flower. • Estimate the % of visible symptoms on the bottom 8 leaves. • Note any other observations such as insect damage, leaf mold... Stippling Necrosis Chlorosis

  14. Garden Locations North Carolina Education Centers • Appalachian Highlands Science LC in GRSM • Cradle of Forestry in America, Brevard • Pisgah Wildlife Center, Brevard • WNC Arboretum, Asheville • WNC Nature Center, Asheville • Bullington Center, Hendersonville • Office of Environmental Education, Raleigh Schools • High Schools – Asheville, TC Roberson, Page (Charlotte), Tuscola, Robbinsville, Hiwasee Dam • Elementary/Middle Schools – Clyde, Fairview, Jonathan Valley, Andrews, E. McDowell Jr. Tennessee • Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont • Twin Creeks in GRSM • Central MS &HS in Monroe County in partnership with Obed Wild & Scenic River • South Park Elem., Jackson Christian, Sevier Co. HS • Upcoming: Oneida HS in conjunction with Big South Fork NRRA

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