Indiana Concerns
Ball State University, the College of Fine Arts and the Department of Theatre and Dance's production of Still Life with Iris believes that Indiana is a great state and community to live in. From the great Dunes of the Northern Indiana to the rolling hills of the South, the agricultural and industrial innovations that Indiana provides the United States of America are immense. However, the ecosystem and environment of Indiana is falling detrimentally to the effects of global warming/ climate change. Below are some highlighted issues that Indiana faces today and will face in the many years to come if climate issues do not resolve.
Ball State University, the College of Fine Arts and the Department of Theatre and Dance's production of Still Life with Iris believes that Indiana is a great state and community to live in. From the great Dunes of the Northern Indiana to the rolling hills of the South, the agricultural and industrial innovations that Indiana provides the United States of America are immense. However, the ecosystem and environment of Indiana is falling detrimentally to the effects of global warming/ climate change. Below are some highlighted issues that Indiana faces today and will face in the many years to come if climate issues do not resolve.
Dependent on coal powerplant, with Sulfur dioxide scrubbers, in South West Indiana.
(Duke Energy)
Air Pollution and Health Concerns:
Indiana is the worst state in the amount of coal dumping[i] and the fourth highest state for the amount of Mercury produced from our factories. Both of these pollute the air and cause health concerns. Mercury harms the brain and nervous system as well as fetal development. (Filippelli) Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), which comes from burning coal, can constrict bronchial tubes of the lungs and causes asthmatic symptoms. (Purdue, 23; United States “Sulfur Dioxide”). Finally, Indiana's levels of nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) do not follow the requirements of the Clean Air Act of 1990. These air pollutants come from car exhust and can cause respiration and mucous membrane irritation and inflammation (i.e. the
mouth and throat). (Purdue, 23; EPA “Nitrogen Dioxide”)
[1]Coal dumping occurs when the byproduct of burning coal (ash) is dumped into specific ponds and other designated places. This ash has high amount of arsenic and lead, which can cause major respiratory issues and birth defects for the outlying communities. (“Disposal: Coal Ash Waste”)
Indiana is the worst state in the amount of coal dumping[i] and the fourth highest state for the amount of Mercury produced from our factories. Both of these pollute the air and cause health concerns. Mercury harms the brain and nervous system as well as fetal development. (Filippelli) Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), which comes from burning coal, can constrict bronchial tubes of the lungs and causes asthmatic symptoms. (Purdue, 23; United States “Sulfur Dioxide”). Finally, Indiana's levels of nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) do not follow the requirements of the Clean Air Act of 1990. These air pollutants come from car exhust and can cause respiration and mucous membrane irritation and inflammation (i.e. the
mouth and throat). (Purdue, 23; EPA “Nitrogen Dioxide”)
[1]Coal dumping occurs when the byproduct of burning coal (ash) is dumped into specific ponds and other designated places. This ash has high amount of arsenic and lead, which can cause major respiratory issues and birth defects for the outlying communities. (“Disposal: Coal Ash Waste”)
Temperature:
The temperature in Indiana (along with the world) is increasing supporting this claim, the summer of 2012 was the warmest summer Indiana had seen in decades. (Filippelli) Looking at the graph to the below right, the red line (showing trend) goes up, showing the increase of temperature in Indiana since 1895. (National Climatic Data Center) In these years of temperature increase, the state sees an increase in heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and stroke. (Filippelli) Looking at the chart to the below left it is easy to see the increased temperatures in Indiana's capital over the past and projected future summers.
Temperatures in the summer continue to rise (as it is scientists expect), health concerns of the citizens of the state as well as the livestock production will decrease; the wildlife will suffer and die off, especially the mussels and fishes that clean and filter Indiana's waterways. This is very serious because Indiana's fresh water will decline. (Purdue, 15-16) Along with a destruction of aquatic life, there will be an influx of birds (especially black crows) during the summertime. Due to this and the link between the West Nile Virus and Black Crows, there will be an increase of West Nile Virus victims in Indiana. (Purdue, 17)
The temperature in Indiana (along with the world) is increasing supporting this claim, the summer of 2012 was the warmest summer Indiana had seen in decades. (Filippelli) Looking at the graph to the below right, the red line (showing trend) goes up, showing the increase of temperature in Indiana since 1895. (National Climatic Data Center) In these years of temperature increase, the state sees an increase in heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and stroke. (Filippelli) Looking at the chart to the below left it is easy to see the increased temperatures in Indiana's capital over the past and projected future summers.
Temperatures in the summer continue to rise (as it is scientists expect), health concerns of the citizens of the state as well as the livestock production will decrease; the wildlife will suffer and die off, especially the mussels and fishes that clean and filter Indiana's waterways. This is very serious because Indiana's fresh water will decline. (Purdue, 15-16) Along with a destruction of aquatic life, there will be an influx of birds (especially black crows) during the summertime. Due to this and the link between the West Nile Virus and Black Crows, there will be an increase of West Nile Virus victims in Indiana. (Purdue, 17)
Precipitation:
Precipitation in Indiana is expected to continue increasing as the Greehouse Effect continues. As seen in the chart to the below left, preceipiations is increasing since 1895. (NCDC) This will affect the growth of the soybean and corn agriculture as rains will wash away crops. Winters are becoming milder and due to this, more rain with less snow falls. This causes decreased periods of frozen soil and affects the “readiness” of the soil for planting seasons. (Purdue, 3) With milder winters, there is an expectation for more severe summers. Tornadoes, flooding, and severe storms will drop more preciptation in short spurts, rather than over a longer period of time. By doing this, waterways will flood much more often and Indiana will spend more money fixing the community. (Union for Concerned Scientists, 6) Many of these bodies of water (i.e. Fall Creek in Indianapolis and White River) are heavily polluted (i.e. White River); standing, stagnant polluted water is a major health hazard and hurts Indiana’s ecosystem. The pictures below give insight to what has happened and what is expected to come for precipitation. For more information highlighting Indiana's past severe weather and what is expected to come, please visit the National Weather Service Weather Forcast Office for Indiana by clicking here.
Precipitation in Indiana is expected to continue increasing as the Greehouse Effect continues. As seen in the chart to the below left, preceipiations is increasing since 1895. (NCDC) This will affect the growth of the soybean and corn agriculture as rains will wash away crops. Winters are becoming milder and due to this, more rain with less snow falls. This causes decreased periods of frozen soil and affects the “readiness” of the soil for planting seasons. (Purdue, 3) With milder winters, there is an expectation for more severe summers. Tornadoes, flooding, and severe storms will drop more preciptation in short spurts, rather than over a longer period of time. By doing this, waterways will flood much more often and Indiana will spend more money fixing the community. (Union for Concerned Scientists, 6) Many of these bodies of water (i.e. Fall Creek in Indianapolis and White River) are heavily polluted (i.e. White River); standing, stagnant polluted water is a major health hazard and hurts Indiana’s ecosystem. The pictures below give insight to what has happened and what is expected to come for precipitation. For more information highlighting Indiana's past severe weather and what is expected to come, please visit the National Weather Service Weather Forcast Office for Indiana by clicking here.
Works Cited:
“Disposal: Coal Ash Waste.” Sierra Club: Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the Planet. Web. 12 February 2013
<http://content.sierraclub.org/coal/disposal-ash-waste>.
Duke Energy. Photograph of Gibson Station in SW Indiana. 2008. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dukeenergy/4587280506/.
Filippelli, Gabriel. “Climate 101.” PowerPoint presentation. University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN. November 2012.
Fitzpatrick, Melanie, Freese, Barbara, Wadsworth, Bryan, Rouwenna Lamm. “Confronting Climate Change in the
U.S. Midwest.” Union of Concerned Scientists July 2009: 1-12. Print.
National Climatic Data Center. Graph of Indiana's precipitation trend 1896-2013. February 2013. <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/time-series/index.php?parameter=pcp&month=12&year=2012&filter=12&state=12&div=0>.
National Climatic Data Center. Graph of Indiana's temperature trend 1895-2013. February 2013. <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/time-series/index.php?parameter=tmp&month=12&year=2012&filter=12&state=12&div=0>.
Purdue University. The Purdue Climate Change Research Center. Impacts of Climate Change for the State of Indiana. February
2008. Web. 12 February 2013. http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/climate/assets/pdfs/ClimateImpactsIndiana.pdf.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Nitrogen Dioxide.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012. Web. 12 February 2013 <http://www.epa.gov/airquality/nitrogenoxides/>.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Sulfur Dioxide.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012. Web. 12 February 2013 http://www.epa.gov/oaqps001/sulfurdioxide/index.html.
“Disposal: Coal Ash Waste.” Sierra Club: Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the Planet. Web. 12 February 2013
<http://content.sierraclub.org/coal/disposal-ash-waste>.
Duke Energy. Photograph of Gibson Station in SW Indiana. 2008. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dukeenergy/4587280506/.
Filippelli, Gabriel. “Climate 101.” PowerPoint presentation. University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN. November 2012.
Fitzpatrick, Melanie, Freese, Barbara, Wadsworth, Bryan, Rouwenna Lamm. “Confronting Climate Change in the
U.S. Midwest.” Union of Concerned Scientists July 2009: 1-12. Print.
National Climatic Data Center. Graph of Indiana's precipitation trend 1896-2013. February 2013. <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/time-series/index.php?parameter=pcp&month=12&year=2012&filter=12&state=12&div=0>.
National Climatic Data Center. Graph of Indiana's temperature trend 1895-2013. February 2013. <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/time-series/index.php?parameter=tmp&month=12&year=2012&filter=12&state=12&div=0>.
Purdue University. The Purdue Climate Change Research Center. Impacts of Climate Change for the State of Indiana. February
2008. Web. 12 February 2013. http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/climate/assets/pdfs/ClimateImpactsIndiana.pdf.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Nitrogen Dioxide.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012. Web. 12 February 2013 <http://www.epa.gov/airquality/nitrogenoxides/>.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Sulfur Dioxide.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012. Web. 12 February 2013 http://www.epa.gov/oaqps001/sulfurdioxide/index.html.