Global Warming - The Effects and Impacts on the Environment

The effects and impacts of global warming on the environment may include the continuing rise in the Earth’s temperature, rising sea levels and rising temperatures causing glaciers to melt. This combination of impacts will eventually cause many tropical low lying islands to become submerged.

Introduction to the Effects of Global Warming

Global warming is a direct result of the accumulation of greenhouse gases that have gathered in the earth’s upper atmosphere and are preventing some of the solar infrared radiation emitted from earth from entering deep space. This causes the earth to overheat, unbalancing our fragile climate structure, and causing detrimental effects such as rising sea levels, windy, wetter and warmer weather paterns and melting of the ice caps. Some species of flora and fauna, along with ecosystems already under stress, will become extinct if we continue to sit back and do little to mitigate the situation.

This is another article in my series on climate change. In this article, we shall examine the major effects of global warming on the environment.

We start by listing these impacts and go on to look at the repercussions of them.

The Effects of Global Warming

The major effects of global warming are numerous. Some of these effects are listed below:

Rising world temperatures

Rising sea levels

Climate change

Melting glaciers, polar ice and sea ice

Bleaching of coral reefs

Species extinction

The Effects of Global Warming

Rising Sea Levels

• Rising sea levels are caused by two distinct events, the melting of polar glaciers, and the expansion of seawater.

  • Melting of Polar Glaciers

  Due to the rise in the Earth’s temperature, the polar glaciers are being closely monitored and have been seen to be melting and reducing in area. Glaciers are formed on top of landm therefore, when they melt they add to the volume of the world's seawater.

  • Expansion of seawater

  As the Earth's temperature rises, heat is transmitted to our oceans. This causes the seawater at the top 100 meters or so of our oceans to expand, thus raising their levels. This rise in the temperature of the sea has the adverse effect of causing coral reefs to become bleached. This is the term given to the reefs when the algae and other marine life which live on the coral die, causing the coral to lose its vibrant colors.

  Climate change due to rising temperatures

  This is one of the major issues being investigated today in relation to global warming.

  • Weather variations

  Scientists have predicted that our climate will become more windy, wet and warmer. Wind will increase in speed and duration. Rainfall will increase in the winter months and decrease in the summer months. Temperatures are already rising at an estimated 0.1οC every year and scientists predict that a rise of 4οC can be expected by the end of this century.

  Melting glaciers

  • Increase in adverse geological occurrences

  As well as causing a rise in sea levels, some geologists have blamed the increase of occurrence of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis on the disappearing glaciers.

  Species extinction

  Loss of habitat is caused by flooding or turning it into a barren dessert. Reduction in flora and fauna will result from the extinction of species due to stress and starvation.

• The Impacts of Global Warming on the Enviornment

  Rising Sea Levels

  This will exacerbate coastal flooding necessitating erection of higher coastal barriers; control by this method by the industrial nations is being acted upon. However, the poorer third world nations, especially those with low-lying tropical islands, cannot afford this protection, so they are likely to lose their homes to the sea.

  Rising sea levels will also threaten many of the world's estuaries. Some of these estuaries have valuable ecosystems within their mudflats, which are supported by the freshwater from the rivers. The encroachment of saltwater into this habitat could do irreparable damage to its habitants, causing mass extinction of some species. This will escalate to the reduction of some already endangered species of permanent and migrating wildfowl, which depend on the mudflats for food.

  Ingress of seawater into freshwater supplies has been predicted, which is bad enough in the western world, but is even more disastrous for the third world countries already suffering from lack of clean drinking water supplies.

  Climate Change

  Wind is predicted to increase in velocity causing structural damage, bringing down trees and power lines and causing storms at sea.

  Rainfall is also forecasted to increase in winter but decrease in summer. We have already suffered from flooding over the last decade, and some of us have seen water rationing because of drought.

  A predicted rise in the world’s temperature of 4οC will reduce our crop yields and will eventually lead to changes in current methods of crop cultivation, necessitating their replacement by more tropical suited varieties.

  Finally, there have been recorded instances of spring being early by up to two weeks, totally confusing the wildlife population. Reports have also been made that some rivers are becoming too warm to support fish, especially salmon.

  Melting Glaciers

  The glaciers exert an enormous pressure on the land they have been formed on. When they melt, this pressure is released and geologists believe this sudden release of pressure on the Earth is the cause of the recent increase in volcanic action, earthquakes, and tsunamis worldwide.

  Species Extinction

  The species which may be already endangered can be exposed to flooding or drought, with the loss of their food chain and destruction of their habitats, eventually leading to extinction.

• Summary

  Global warming is caused by the accumulation of anthropogenic greenhouse gasses which prevent the exit of long-wave infrared radiation emitted from Earth into space.

  There are many effects of global warming, all requiring immediate action, but climate change with the associated rise in sea levels and elevated world temperatures being the most urgent cases.

  These three major effects alone are harbingers of major world disasters for humans, flora and fauna throughout the world.

  Some of these disasters, such as floods, droughts, hurricanes and earthquakes, are escalating, and are set to continue throughout this century - unless we all do something about it.

  This can be achieved by mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the impacts of global warming.

Global Warming Effects and the Northeast USA

Global warming could have a particularly drastic effect on the Northeast region of the U.S. as it disrupts ocean circulation, resulting in rising ocean levels. Temperature increases could alter the New England landscape beyond recognizability.

• Introduction

  The effects of global warming in the Northeast USA could transform the distinctive character of the region. New England is already feeling the effects of global warming, according to a 2007 report from the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA). If current trends in greenhouse emissions continue, the distinctive flora, agricultural products, commercial fishing, and recreational activities of the U.S. Northeast could disappear or be dramatically transformed.

• Temperature Changes

  The two-year study from the NECIA, "Climate Changes in the U.S. Northeast," reports that average temperatures in northeastern states have risen by 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit per decade between 1970 and the present. During winter months, temperatures have increased 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit per decade over the same time period. "Climate Changes in the U.S. Northeast" estimates that if energy policies do not change, global warming could result in the growth of temperatures in the northeast of between 6.2 and 12.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Ocean Levels

  Jianjun Yin, a researcher at Florida State University, recently published a study in "Nature Geoscience" that places the possible sea level rise along the northeastern coast of the United States at around 18 inches within the next century. Aixue Hu, author of a paper on the effects of Greenland ice melting in "Geophysical Research Letters," agrees that the sea could rise between 12 and 20 inches by 2100.

  
  

  • The northeastern U.S. would experience greater increases in sea levels than other regions because of the circulation patterns of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the northeastern U.S. These patterns keep water flowing between the north and the south. Warm water flowing from tropical areas travels northward, where it cools and sinks to form a layer of cold water. If temperatures rise, this layer will become warmer and expand, which will, in turn, raise sea levels off the northeastern coast of the United States.

  • Economic Effects

    New England is known for its cod and lobsters, both of which could find the waters off the northeastern coast of the U.S. unsuitable if global warming continues unabated. Agriculture in the northeastern United States would suffer from warmer temperatures. Apples, blueberries and cranberries might not be able to grow in the warmer climates of places like Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Northeastern trees such as the spruce and fir, which not only contribute to the look of New England but also contribute wood to manufacturing, could shift northward as the northeast becomes warmer. Cities like Boston and Atlantic City could experience intense flooding as ocean levels rise.

  • Recreational Impacts

    Global warming could also adversely affect tourism in the form of winter sports as winter precipitation more frequently appears as rain and snow melts earlier in the year. According to the NECIA study, only western Maine would continue to have a viable ski season if emissions are not checked. Fly fishermen might discover that the native brook trout that live in many of New England's streams cannot flourish under warmer temperatures. Hemlock stands keep the trout's habitats cool and shaded, and warmer weather could eradicate hemlock from the N.E. region.

  • What Can Be Done?

    "Climate Changes in the U.S. Northeast" suggests that Americans could help ameliorate the effects of global warming in the Northeast USA by taking immediate action to reduce carbon emissions. These actions could include decreasing dependence on fossil fuels by switching to clean energy sources, like wind power. Individuals can also install energy-efficient appliances in their homes, carpool and make use of public transportation to reduce carbon emissions.

    
    

How does Global Warming affect Plants?

How does global warming affect plants? Well, the answer is simple. The effect of global warming on plants is caused by rising land and water temperatures. As a result, surface and underwater plant life is harmed.

• How does global warming affect plants?

  Global warming harms all aspects of surface and underwater plant life. Plant life on earth is altered by the elevated temperatures caused by global warming. So, how does global warming affect plants? The answer is fairly simple. Higher temperatures and other climate changes decrease the amount of rain and water plants receive, as well as elevating sea temperatures. This can cause droughts and increases the risk for wild fires. The effect of global warming on plants is caused by numerous factors.

• Plant Life

  

• What is the effect of global warming on plants?

  Plants can easily be affected by even a gradual increase in temperatures. Small shifts in climate changes can harm a number of plant species. The plants of the mountain and Polar Regions are especially at harm from global warming. As ice in these areas melt, the plants are endangered because the ground becomes warmer than the usual temperature the plants are accustom to. While some plants are able to adapt to the temperature changes, many are not able to do so.

  
  

  Consequences for Plant Life

  Over the past decade, global warming has increased the number of forest fires, affecting numerous areas of the world. This is caused by record high temperatures and drought. In return, these fires add to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

  
  

  • As temperatures in regions begin to rise, plants are beginning to grow in other areas they are normally not found in. They are trying to adapt to the global warming changes. The growing seasons for many plants are becoming altered as the temperatures change. As the temperature changes, many plants and not capable of reproducing, causing many numbers of plant species to become limited. The same thing occurs with underwater plant life. The higher water temperature limits plants ability to thrive and reproduce.

  • Results of Global Warming

    As a result of all the changes caused by global warming, the risk of wild fires increases. Larger wild fires are being recorded, as well as more acres of land are burning. Droughts are beginning to effect areas that normally do not see drought. This causes many plants to not receive the water and nutrients they need to survive.

    If global warming continues, many growing seasons can become permanently changed. Precipitation patterns can begin to change, harming plant life. Heat waves can begin to last longer causing many plants to die. Frost days can also begin to last longer, harming a wide variety of plant species. Plants can begin to be threatened by a lager number of predatory insects.

    If the effect of global warming on plants continues, the food supply for many humans and animals can start to diminish from the harm done to plants. As the temperatures rise, more and more plant species will begin to be threatened. This will cause a chain reaction for all aspects of the planet.

How Does Global Warming Affect Wind Currents?

It's all about wind- literally. Wind directly influences climate, which makes wind a central issue in the debate over climate change

• All About Wind

  

  
  

  Wind is the driver of climate. It not only serves to move heat around; the movements of masses of air also convey water vapor and particulate matter (pollutants as well as relatively harmless compounds) around the globe. Solar radiation is the engine of the atmosphere and the primary source of the energy in our biosphere. So, how does global warming (or climate change, if you prefer) affect weather in general and wind in particular?

• What is climate?

  Before we can discuss that with any depth, we need to have a working definition of climate. According to Webster’s online dictionary, climate is “the average course or condition of the weather at a place usually over a period of years as exhibited by temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation.” For our purposes, we’re most interested in wind at the moment, though temperature tends to affect or be correlated to wind and wind tends to be related to precipitation.

  
  

  What is Wind?

  The phenomenon of wind is caused by the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. The greater the gradient (or difference) between these two air masses, the greater the velocity of the wind. Generally speaking, and as anyone who has watched a meteorologist’s weather report on TV can attest to, such areas are also generally associated with low (or high) temperature, respectively. Such systems are a result of air’s interaction with Earth’s surface, since land both heats up and cools off faster than air does. The earth stores and regulates the release of that heat in a controlled fashion dependent on the type of surface cover (soil, rock, snow, etc.). A classic example of this is demonstrated by birds- the thermals that they ride result from warm patches of ground causing convective heating of the ai;. sometimes, you will notice clouds associated with thermals as the water vapor in the warm air condenses as the air moves up the thermal. Ocean breezes are a result of the water’s lower density relative to soil or rock; because of this, the ocean heats up and cools more slowly than the ground, creating a pressure differential that results in a land breeze (one blowing in from the sea) during the day, and a sea breeze (one blowing out to sea) at night.

Clouds and Climate

They may look innocent, but clouds may have a major-and potentially disastrous- affect on global climate.

• 
  When you were young, you probably used to lie on the grass and gaze at the clouds. They formed rabbits, hats, elephants, faces, dragons, and giant towers. But you probably didn’t notice that they also form giant mirrors that reflect incoming radiation. In fact, the reflectiveness of clouds might be a key factor in climate change.
  
  
  

  Before we discuss the climactic effects of clouds, let’s go over some background. The climate of the earth- temperatures, storms, rainfall, etc.- is controlled by the amount of radiation entering the earth’s atmosphere and the amount of radiation leaving it. The incoming radiation comes from the sun, while the outgoing radiation is either reflected solar energy or geothermal energy.

  Aerosols, or particles suspended in air, determine how much radiation enters and how much leaves. Aerosols act like tiny two-way mirrors- they reflect some incoming radiation and absorb some outgoing radiation. They are like an atmospheric gate, only allowing a certain amount of heat to pass through.

  Clouds, then, are really just conglomerations of aerosols. Because clouds cover 50% of the earth’s atmospheric surface, they reflect quite a bit of radiation back into space. You can feel this phenomenon when you are outside on a sunny day- the moment a cloud drifts over you, the temperature decreases by a few degrees. But they also keep quite a bit of radiation inside the atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise.

  
  

  This deceptively simple behavior hides some complex implications. Rising temperatures will produce more water vapor and thus more clouds. But will these clouds reflect more heat into space than they reflect back to earth, or vice versa? And will increased cloud formation raise or lower the levels of “free” aerosols in the air?

  The answers to these questions most likely lie in pollution. Pollutants are one of the major sources for aerosols and thus significantly affect atmospheric temperatures. In Frans Olofson’s landmark 2008 dissertation on cloud and climate relationships, he noted that pollutants have a “strong impact on the properties of the urban aerosol” and thus on the reflective properties of clouds. So, in the future, clouds in pollution-rich areas might reflect more heat back to earth than “normal” clouds.

  The connections between clouds and climate change are major concerns in climatology. According to the UN Climate Panel, clouds are “the single greatest uncertainty when estimating the sensitivity of the climate”. They may seem innocuous at first, but the white shape-shifters floating above your head have a serious effect on the future of our planet.

Learn about the Effects of Acid Rain on Plants and Trees

Studies of wood cores provided evidence of acid rain effects on plants & trees,dating as far back as the 1950s.The findings did not come as a surprise since large amounts of acid depositions were attributed to machine inventions fueled via coal burning processes during the Age of Industrialization.

• Industrialization as the Root Cause of Acid Rain

   

  In learning about acid rain effects on plants and trees, information from related research studies date as far back as 1963. Scientists noted certain changes in the Earth’s natural water cycle, to which studies revealed altered compositions of water vapors rising in the atmosphere.

  It was discovered to have increased in acidic content by as much as 100 times over, which gave birth to the term acid rain, referring to the greatly altered atmospheric precipitations. The sulfuric and nitric acid that turned rain water into acid water continued to fill the Earth’s atmosphere as industrialization further heightened the demand for fossil fuel.

  
  

  In recent studies made by scientists from the University of Vermont, the wood cores or rings found in more than a hundred trees of varying species showed that trees began with their growth decline as early as the 1950s. It was gathered that fossil fuels, which could be anything from coal, oil or natural gas came into large use during the Industrial Revolution, which began in England in the mid 18^th century. Industrialization came in the wake of several inventions that aimed to make work easier, produce faster and produce more, by burning coal to make the machines work.

  
  

  Today, decades of annual acid depositions from these human activities contributed acidic gases beyond levels of what the Earth could normally handle. The results have been devastating, and it may take several decades more before man can undo all the negative effects of acid rain on plant growth and on other environmental elements.

• Manifestations of the Effects of Acid Rain on Plants and Forests

   

  Acid rain that contained strong sulfuric and nitric acids has caused numerous forests all over Europe, to die. Forest areas particularly in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Switzerland covering as much as 200,000 to 300,000 hectares have died from acid rain effects on trees. In recent years, UK reported losses estimated at 25milliion UK pounds when large parts of their territory in Scotland and Cimbria were totally destroyed by acid rain. This did not come as a surprise at all since the areas were recorded to have received the highest input of acidic precipitations.

  
  

  Most European forest areas are still troubled despite efforts to eliminate or curb the use of fossil fuels, as some parts of the European continent receives the most number of rainfalls and snowfalls in a year.

  In the U.S., the harsh effects of acid rain on plant growth, became evident in the highly elevated forests of Great Smoky Mountain National Parks and Shenandoah, found in the Appalachian Mountains starting from Maine to Georgia. The greatest manifestation of these acid rain effects in the U.S. are the continuing declines of red spruce trees found in Adirondack Mountains, New York, in Green Mountains of Vermont. Unfortunately, those in the White Mountains of New Hampshire have died. As trees are continuously subjected to acid rainfalls, the acid depositions strip the leaves and the needles off of their calcium contents.

  
  

  However, it is not the direct effect of acid rainfall that has caused the trees and plants to lose their foliage, but it is actually the indirect effects of acid rain depositions on fertile soil that are causing plants and trees to wither and die

• Changes in the Underlying Chemistry of the Soil as Indirect Effects of Acid Rain on Plants

   

  Forest trees and plant vegetations cannot survive on land that is barren and devoid of nutrients. As acid rains continuously fall on fertile soil, acid depositions containing sulfuric and nitric acid settle and seep in. Thepresence of these acidic substances tends to affect the calcium, sodium, magnesium and potassium which are considered as weak elements in the soil. They are nutrients than can be easily absorbed by the roots of trees and plants in order to grow and survive.

  
  

  However, this process was altered by the presence of acidic substances that influences ions to attach themselves to the clay instead. Hence, plant and tree roots are unable to absorb and utilize the nutrients for growth and development. As the latter remain in the soil, they evaporate and go back to the atmosphere.

  
  

  The sulfuric and nitric depositions of rainwater can also cause the aluminum content in rocks to leach and dissolve in soil water. The presence of aluminum in soil water, adversely affects the roots' capacity to absorb and distribute nutrients throughout the plant’s or tree’s system. Aluminum has been established as having harmful effects to plants because the substance prevents calcium absorption. In addition to aluminum, concentrations of sulfuric and nitric acids have accumulated in the soil and are likewise being absorbed by the trees or plants.

  
  

  Soil that has high acidic content decreased the presence of soil bacteria that can release the calcium, magnesium, phosphate and other nutrient giving agents in decaying leaves and other rotting materials. Hence, the nutrients that were lost or utilized could not be replenished.

  As a result, the acidified soil and the presence of aluminum have caused the forest plants and trees to wither and die.

• Acid Rain Effects on Plant Growth

   

  These are the similar occurrences brought about by acid rain on farm lands used for crop vegetations. Acid rain strips arable land of the nutrients needed to sustain the growth and propagation of crops. However, unlike forest soil, which does not receive aid from human intervention, farm lands are treated with soil lime in order to counter the indirect effects of acid rain on the crops.

  Yet laboratory results related to studies of the effects of acid rain produced mixed results. These prevented scientists and chemists alike to pinpoint the exact causes of crop failure. A few theories offered include the premise that some plants and trees have stronger tolerance to acid depositions of sulfuric and nitric acids.

  
  

  Another possibility is that the combined effects of acid rain with O3 or the bad ozone, formed due to the chemical reaction of nitrogen oxide with Volatile Organic Compound or VOC. The greatest degree of degradation take place in urban areas, where large concentrations of O3 are found. On the other hand, the high elevation of forests brings the plants and trees nearer to the O3 in the atmosphere which is in fact called, ground level ozone layer.

  
  

  There is no doubt that acid rain effects have caused the environment great amounts of distress. In fact, infrastructures and human health conditions have also shown considerable damages from the accumulated and combined effects of pollution and acid rain. Although counter measures and regulations against acid rain effects on plants and trees are being implemented, the greater question is, how many more trees or even forests will die before those measures could result to positive effects?

Acid Rain Affect Plant Growth: Air Quality Issues of Electricity Production

What is acid rain?

The term "acid rain" is used to describe rain, mist or snow that is unusually acidic. A pH value is the measure of acidic or alkaline material. The lower the pH, the higher the acid reading. Rain and snow are naturally slightly acidic due to naturally occurring chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Compared to normal rainwater with a pH readings of 5.6, the Eastern U.S. suffers from some of the most severe acid rain, with levels typically reading at 4.4, though some locations in the west also face severe impacts.

The burning of fossil fuels generates air pollution that scientists have determined is the major cause of acid rain. Power plants, along with factories and vehicles that also burn fossil fuels, all emit sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). When combined with moisture in the atmosphere, these pollutants are returned to the earth as acids. This process is known as "deposition" and occurs when it rains or snows, but it can also occur when dust settles out of the atmosphere during dry periods.

Acid precursors can be carried in the atmosphere for several days and travel several hundred miles downwind of the power plant stack before being deposited on the earth's surface. Because of prevailing winds, the northeastern United States and Canada receive significant quantities of acid precursors from coal-fired power plants in states stretching from Missouri to the west and Pennsylvania to the east.

What are the consequences of acid rain?

Acid rain is linked to a range of negative impacts on the natural world as well as human environments:

Aquatic impacts Scientists believe that acid rain is responsible for the dramatic disappearance of brook trout and other fish species from pristine lakes and streams. These treasured water bodies receive acid directly from the atmosphere and from runoff from the surrounding watershed. Of the lakes and streams studied in a National Surface Water Survey conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency, acid rain was determined to cause acidity in 75 percent of the acidic lakes and 50 percent of the acidic streams analyzed. Some lakes are particularly susceptible to acid rain since the underlying soil has limited ability to neutralize, or "buffer," the acids. Lakes suffering from chronic acidity can be found in several regions of the United States and Canada, including the Adirondacks, the mid-Appalachian highlands, the upper Midwest and the high elevation West.

Aquatic species vary in their tolerance to elevated levels of acidity. The acid interferes with reproduction much sooner in some especially sensitive species than with others. Generally speaking, acid rain fosters a shift in fish population from acid-sensitive to acid-tolerant fish and other aquatic plant and animal species.

Forest impacts

Acid rain may render intense impacts on the health of forest ecosystems. According to the National Assessment Precipitation Assessment Program's 1998 Biennial Report to Congress, the current mortality and decline of high elevation red spruce populations in the Northeast, and decline in growth rates for Appalachian red spruce, "are the only cases of significant forest damage for which there is strong scientific evidence that acid deposition is a primary cause." Nonetheless, several recent studies conducted by the United States Geological Survey and others point to acid rain as contributing to long-range damage to forests by depleting calcium, a nutrient vital to plant growth.

Materials

Acid rain affects many types of materials, from objects of particular historical artistic or cultural value -- buildings and monuments -- to more ordinary objects such as cars and trucks. Acid rain, especially in the "dry" form, corrodes metal, and accelerates the deterioration of stone and paint.

Visibility

Sulfur dioxide emissions reduce visibility when they form sulfate particles in the atmosphere. Visibility reductions are most pronounced in the eastern part of the United States, particularly in and around national parks. How does electricity production contribute to acid rain? Electricity generation accounts for the lion's share of air pollutants that spawn acid rain. Every year, the nation's fossil fuel power plants spew roughly 70 percent of SO2 emissions and 30 percent of NOx emissions that are critical ingredients in making acid rain.

Of course, not all power plants generate the same level of air pollutants contributing to acid rain. Emissions rates vary widely depending upon factors as the precise fossil fuel type used, the nature of the combustion process, pre- and post-combustion air emission controls, as well as vintage of the power plant. Older coal plants exempt from modern clean air standards under "grandfathering" provisions of the Clean Air Act (especially those designed to burn high sulfur content coal) are at one extreme and are the most significant source of acid rain pollutants. These power plants are highly concentrated in the Ohio Valley and Midwest. Given the prevailing winds, these older, largely uncontrolled pollution sources exacerbate the acid rain experienced in the Northeast.

On the other end of the spectrum are new natural gas-fired generation fitted with best available control technology. They release a fraction of the SO2 produced by coal-fired power plants. However, the performance of natural gas plants is decidedly more mixed in the area of NOx emissions, the other major precursor of acid rain. Although possible to mitigate NOx emissions using advanced technologies, many gas-fired power plants now in service use older, more polluting technologies.

How can consumer electricity choice address acid rain?

Competition in the electricity industry offers consumers for the first time the opportunity to directly influence the environmental footprint of electric power production. In several states, suppliers are assembling electricity resource portfolios that are significantly cleaner than the status quo. By selecting one of these resource portfolios, which boost the amount of renewable energy sources in the fuel mix, consumers can help ensure that the emissions of pollutants that cause acid rain are reduced. Consumers can send a powerful signal to electricity suppliers that they demand their supply not include power from older coal power plants exempt from the nation's federal air quality standards. These dirty power plants have increased their power production recently in response to wholesale competition. Between 1995 and 1995 [typo in the draft REPP report - need to find actual date - I assume the date should be 1996], a single Midwestern utility increased coal-fired generation by 10 percent, which increased its share of NOx emissions by over 50,000 tons. That increase in NOx emissions from a single utility surpasses the total NOx emissions from all fossil power plants operating in Massachusetts and New Hampshire combined.