Atmosphere

Indicator

This atmosphere indicator considers both air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The air quality measure is for levels of small particulate matter in our air as sampled at 11 monitoring sites across King County. The GHG emissions data is from emissions estimates completed by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The GHG reduction target was established in the 2007 King County Climate Plan. The scope of the GHG measure is geographic King County — including all of the households, businesses and vehicle travel.

As you can see from the pie chart, the priority emphasis is on reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is our number one air quality concern to protect public health, GHG emissions causing global warming will have unprecendented environmental, social and economic impacts. In fact, global warming is fast becoming the pre-eminent issue of our time both locally and globally.

Within King County we are expecting a 50 percent loss of snowpack within 50 years. This reduction of snow (and snow-water equivalent) will adversely affect forests, farms, fish, hydropower and drinking water availability. There will be an increase in severe weather patterns causing more intense droughts and floods. There will be an increase in human disease such as West Nile virus from increase in mosquito infestation. Forests will be increasing at risk from Pine Beetle infestation and forest fires, even in wetter Western Washington. Sea level rise will erode coastline and affect infrastructure along our coasts. These are impacts just within King County. Additional impacts across the state, the country and the globe will add addition stresses to our economy and quality of life.

More information about King County's Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions is available by continuing to the pages for these indicators:

• Air Quality
• Green House Gas Emissions