Satellite-observed U.S. power plant NOxemission reductions and their impact on air quality

摘要: [1] Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions resulting from fossil fuel combustion lead to unhealthy levels of near-surface ozone (O3). One the largest U.S. sources, electric power generation, represented about 25% anthropogenic NOx in 1999. Here we show that space-based instruments observed declining regional between 1999 and 2005 response recent implementation pollution controls by utility companies eastern Satellite-retrieved summertime nitrogen dioxide (NO2) columns bottom-up emission estimates larger decreases Ohio River Valley, where plants dominate emissions, than northeast urban corridor. Model simulations predict lower O3 across much these reductions.