Mobile sources account for more than half of all the air pollution in the United States and the primary mobile source of air pollution is the automobile, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. By switching over to renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar power), maximizing fuel efficiency in our vehicles, and replacing more and more of our gasoline-powered cars and trucks with electric versions, we’ll be limiting air pollution at its source while also curbing the global warming that heightens so many of its worst health impacts. Natural sources can sometimes be significant but do not usually create ongoing air pollution problems like the other source types can. Utilize tools like the EPA’s air pollution monitor, AirNow, to get the latest conditions. Check the above webcams to monitor current smoke conditions, keeping in mind that wind and weather can change conditions quickly and dramatically. View current ground level ozone levels at Turtleback Dome, situated just above the landmark Tunnel View. Visit AirNow for a color-coded report of the current Air Quality Index and any health recommendations. Days of unhealthy ozone levels in the park generally coincide with days of poor air quality in California’s Central Valley, with pollutants carried to the park on afternoon westerly winds.

Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows are more sheltered areas with generally low ozone levels. There are unique properties of water in that water is polar, an excellent solvent and it is less dense as a solid than a liquid. There were more than five million driving accidents, compared to 20 accidents in flying. Soon, there’s no more effect on the carpet than if you’d just pushed four wheels back and forth across it. By pumping water back to the upper reservoir, the plant has more water to generate electricity during periods of peak consumption. So, while you definitely shouldn’t depend on ice water consumption to replace exercise or a healthy diet, drinking cold water instead of warm water does, in fact, burn some extra Calories! If you’re using an air conditioner while outdoor pollution conditions are bad, use the recirculating setting to limit the amount of polluted air that gets inside.

Sometimes chemical reactions in the atmosphere change pollutants before they are deposited. Pollutants in the air can create haze, making it harder to see, and pollutant deposition can have biological effects. Engineers have pointed out some areas where efficiency of the existing hardware could be improved. The most ideal masks for smoke particles will be labelled “NIOSH” (which stands for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and have either “N95” or “P100” printed on it. Smoke in and near Yosemite National park is often responsible for elevated particulate levels. Particulate matter and increased ground ozone levels negatively affect visitors’ enjoyment of the park by reducing visibility and potentially affecting respiratory health. Yosemite National Park is a host site to many long-term air quality monitoring projects, including Clean Air Status And Trends Network (CASTNET), the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) and the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE). In 2020, Yosemite National Park recorded 12 days of ground level ozone in excess of federal standards.

The Clean Air Act Amendment of 1977 designates Yosemite National Park as a Class I area, setting high standards for air quality and visibility in and around the park. According to a report on the Clean Air Act commissioned by NRDC, the annual benefits of cleaner air are up to 32 times greater than the cost of clean air regulations. Those benefits include up to 370,000 avoided premature deaths, 189,000 fewer hospital admissions for cardiac and respiratory illnesses, and net economic benefits of up to $3.8 trillion for the U.S. NPS areas experience these effects just like other places. “The less gasoline we burn, the better we’re doing to reduce air pollution and the harmful effects of climate change,” Walke explains. And most important: “Support leaders who push for clean air and water and responsible steps on climate change,” Walke says. “When you see in the news or hear on the weather report that pollution levels are high, it may be useful to limit the time when children go outside or you go for a jog,” Walke says. Elevated levels of ground level ozone pollution are typically correlated with warm days, with the highest concentrations recorded between May and October.