The iconic fog that hangs over the ancient peaks of the Smokies is what gives the range its name. The Cherokee called the mountains “Shaconage,” which translates to the place of the blue smoke, and people come from all around the world to see it. But more than being part of the attraction for recreational visitors (approximately 12.55 million in 2019), the recognizable clouds help to shield the ecosystem of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from climate change, which is why it is so important to protect it.
Air quality in the park has been greatly impacted by pollution, diminishing the scenic views, damaging plant life, and degrading the soil and streams. Airborne pollution comes primarily from outside the park through vehicle emissions, coal power plants, and factories, blown into the Smokies on wind currents from urban areas and industrial sites. Those weather patterns combined with the elevation and structure of the mountains cause man-made pollutants to get trapped inside and around the park.
The park’s staff continually and carefully monitor threats of air pollution, but when Covid-19 hit in 2020 it presented a unique opportunity for intensified research. All around the world, skies in heavily polluted cities began to clear during the coronavirus pandemic, and the air in the Great Smoky Mountains was impacted as well. During a five-week period when the park was closed, emissions dropped by several hundred tons, according to National Park Service air quality specialist Jim Renfro.
Interviewed by local Knoxville, TN news station WBIR earlier this year, Renfroe said, “Most of that is carbon dioxide. There is a lot of testing that needs to take place, but all indications are the air quality has improved during this shutdown.”
With virtually no traffic coming into the park or flying over it, researchers were able to measure factors that affected what the park looks, smells, and even sounds like. While the data is still being evaluated, it was an incredible opportunity to look at how a change in human behavior can make sure the Smoky Mountains continue to give both visitors and locals a breath of fresh air.
Initial results from these and other studies indicated that air quality is trending in a positive direction. N.C. Division of Air Quality Director Mike Abraczinskas spoke during the Land of Sky Regional Council’s annual State of Our Air Quality Briefing and Press Conference this past October. “Without a doubt, we are seeing the lowest ambient air pollution levels that have been recorded since the inception of our program,” he said.
In North Carolina, data from March and April show a reduction of approximately 30 to 50 percent in vehicle traffic. This drastic reduction of vehicles on the road has led to a noticeable improvement in air quality, with a significant decrease in nitrogen oxide levels in urban areas of the state like the Triangle of Charlotte, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem.
This decrease in traffic dovetails with companies like Duke Energy replacing its coal-burning power plant with a cleaner natural gas facility, which emits 60 percent less carbon, 99 percent less sulfur dioxide, and 40 percent less nitrogen oxide.
These are just a couple of examples of the changes that are impacting the air quality around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in positive ways. Particulate matter concentrations are plummeting as well as ozone concentrations. And as air quality has cleared, the standard visual range on most impaired days is improving. Those iconic Smoky Mountain views are helping us all to see clearly the steps we need to take to ensure this cherished park continues to be protected.
