Wednesday and Thursday are Ozone Alert Days

[cannon_fodder]

I wasn't trying to blame the airlines.  But while aviation is only 11% of the transit pollution, a hugely disproportional part of that is emitted while the engines are on the ground.  They are made to be efficient and low pollution at operating speed and altitude.   Thus, pollution "pockets" are very common and visible on any urban pollution map around airports.

Just a suggestion.  Everything helps and this would be a visible thing that would not only help, but might get the Tulsa Airport some positive national press - as well as any airline that cooperated (pssst AA). 

[Wrinkle]

I have not had that direct conversation with the airport. I will try and work it in. The airline industry is responsible for about 11 percent of greenhouse gases emitted by the U.S. transportation sector.

Jet fuel actually has many other problems than contributing to ozone. It is a mixture of a wide variety of hydrocarbons, but includes some intersting additives including antistatic agents. Jet fuel is also allowed to add lead to the fuel, something prohibited with other transportation fuels.

Mobil sources are half the problem. It is almost impossible to "turn down the dial" on a large industrial process as was mentioned earlier in the thread. Many of the emitters would probably emit more if you tried to change the process on a few days of the year. A complete and efficient fire is by far the cleaner burn.

Trying to blame industry for the issue is a copout. They are heavily regulated and have few options. We, on the other hand can change our behavior on the few days a year that would make a difference.

While 'turning down the dial' may not be possible in some cases, it surely is easy to start an hour later, end an hour early or both. It's much easier for a large industrial process to absorb a 5%-25% reduction for a day than it is for professional lawn mowers to loose 100% of their day, or the public to pay a premium for their continued normal operations.

That's not to say we shouldn't try to plan to get gas the night prior, or mow our lawn. Just those causing the other 'half' of the problem should participate. And, in serious conditions, they have the ability to directly affect the issue on a near-instantaneous basis.

While power plants frequently 'turn the dial' up and down, this is not the reason, theirs is demand driven. But, many processes can be turned down, or OFF for awhile without affecting things too much.

[Wrinkle]

Another suggestion would be for drive-thru windows to close for a couple of hours during ozone peak periods. Park, get out of your car and go inside to get the goods, instead of siting idling for 20 minutes in your car.

I drove by Taco Bueno on 11th around 11:30am and the cars were fully around the building and out to 11th street. Probably 25 cars just sitting.

Maybe noon hour lunch time wouldn't be the time to close the drive thru, but say from 2:00-4:00 or 5:00, when ozone peaks, would help.

[Conan71]

The "Bozone"

[jmikeh]

How bout that?  Nice shower popped up over here on the east side.  Cool down baby!!

[Ed W]

I have not had that direct conversation with the airport. I will try and work it in. The airline industry is responsible for about 11 percent of greenhouse gases emitted by the U.S. transportation sector.

Jet fuel actually has many other problems than contributing to ozone. It is a mixture of a wide variety of hydrocarbons, but includes some intersting additives including antistatic agents. Jet fuel is also allowed to add lead to the fuel, something prohibited with other transportation fuels.

There's an interesting experiment going on right now using GPS to determine aircraft routing.  The idea is that by using a GPS based navigation system, commercial aircraft will fly more direct routes using less fuel.  The present nav system is based on the VOR network that dates back to the 1930s.  It's more like the interstate highway system.  For instance, a flight from Tulsa to Chicago often follows I-44 to St. Louis, then turns north toward ORD.  A GPS route would allow the aircraft to fly directly between the two airports, without making that dogleg.  

[RecycleMichael]

We failed today.

The limit is 75 parts per billion and we had one monitor at 76 parts per billion.

[Wrinkle]

We failed today.

The limit is 75 parts per billion and we had one monitor at 76 parts per billion.

...if only the guy who fired up the incinerator showed up five minutes late for work today.

[nathanm]

Jet fuel is also allowed to add lead to the fuel, something prohibited with other transportation fuels.

Just to be a pedantic freak, Jet A doesn't have lead in it, 100 low lead does. 100LL is for piston engined aircraft.

[Hoss]

We failed today.

The limit is 75 parts per billion and we had one monitor at 76 parts per billion.

We failed today -- yes.

Are we failing based on the current three-year fourth-highest?  No.  Did we fail today based on the 8-hr high?  Absolutely (0.094ppb).

Not saying we shouldn't worry, but sometimes the sky-is-falling attitude may not be the best thing.  If only that rain had happened out west where the monitor got to .106.

http://www.ozonealert.com/scorecard2009.html

Another noted tidbit:  Yesterday was the first time Tulsa saw 100 in June since 1994.

[cannon_fodder]

We failed today.

The limit is 75 parts per billion and we had one monitor at 76 parts per billion.

I demand a recount!

[Wrinkle]

Here's another suggestion.

I don't know the exact legal requirements, but power providers and their large business customers have Power Reduction Plans on file for those times when power providers cannot meet demand and would otherwise have to initiate 'Brown Out' proceedures. By these industries going into their Power Reduction Plan, these brown outs are alleviated.

The same thing could happpen on Ozone Alert Days. Thus, Power Providers could 'turn down' their electric production. So, if a 1,000MW plant could cut down to say only 900MW for the day, there's a 10% reduction in their emissions. That'd be enough to offset anything we've demonstrated to date.

There's three major power plants in the immediate Tulsa area totalling around 2,000MW. If 200MW of energy didn't need to be produced, there'd be substantial reductions in emissions as well.

[rwarn17588]

Something else which might help is useless idling on OA days.  The BA was close to a parking lot where they throttled it down to one lane during lunch hour for work.  Another problem area for idling is the stop light system on Yale from about 81st to 31st.  You hit one stop light and you wind up in stop light hell for five miles.  I've had that happen many times.  It's especially bad on a motorcycle on a day like today.  They need to re-engineer the timing on Yale.  It sucks.

Of course, it would also help if auto manufacturers had an "auto stop" feature when you're stuck in traffic or stopped at a stop light. I have one in my 10-year-old hybrid, and love it.

Also, get into the 21st century and buy a reel mower so you can mow at any old time! 

[SXSW]

What happens when we fail?  Fines?  This unusual late June high pressure ridge should finally be moving west this weekend bringing northwest airflow and a chance of storms, and cooler temps. which should help keep ozone levels down.  This kind of pattern is very common in late July into August and early September but unusual for June.  Thankfully if this is what we have to deal with all summer all the rain we received in April and May should prevent water rationing and drought conditions..

[Conan71]

Of course, it would also help if auto manufacturers had an "auto stop" feature when you're stuck in traffic or stopped at a stop light. I have one in my 10-year-old hybrid, and love it.

Also, get into the 21st century and buy a reel mower so you can mow at any old time! 

I've considered the reel mower.  A lot less dust and easier on my allergies.  Cut grass is one of my worst allergy problems, but I like the exercize and take pride in doing my own lawn.