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For this second major research project, we decided to do an analyses of ozone air pollution in Colorado and Front Range urban centers. First, ozone concentration observation levels were mapped throughout the state. Then, the relationship between the concentration levels and elevation was explored. After this, the Front Range Urban Corridor was looked at closer. We factored in population of the counties with the ozone concentrations available there. Heat maps and kernel density maps were made. Next, we made a job-to-job network to Colorado in the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Natural Gas NAICS job sector. A bar graph and analysis map were made for that. Lastly, asthma hospitalizations by Colorado county, as well as lung cancer rates in Colorado compared to other states in the U.S were analyzed and compared to the data. This showed how ozone can directly affect health of people living in these areas. Ozone is a mixture of Volatile Organic Compounds and Nitrous Oxides.
Below, the air pollutant frequency in Colorado, concentrations in different parts of the state, and the elevational relationship to those values are below. It is clear the surface ozone was the most prevalent pollutant in the state compared to the others. It is also clear that the highest concentrations are east of the mountains at lower elevations. The coincides with highly urban areas.
Figure 1: Frequency of Air Pollutant in Colorado
Figure 2: Ozone Concentrations Mapped in Colorado
Figure 3: Ozone and Elevation Relationship
Here is the Front Range analysis. It is clear to see the higher concretions of ozone where the largest urban areas are. Some of the highest values were in the counties with the highest populations. Human activities like operating fuel combusting machines like automobiles and manufacturing cause these concentrations. Weather patterns also help to trap the ozone at lower elevations due to westerly flow and the Rockies.
Figure 4: Front Range Ozone Concentration and Population
Figure 5: Ozone Concentration Heat Map
The job-to-job analysis was very interesting. The Mining, Quarrying, Oil and Natural Gas Extraction" sect was chosen for analysis because those activates can often lead to higher ozone pollution. The results showed that other states with high numbers of employment in that job sect were responsible for the most jobs coming to Colorado. Texas, Wyoming, and North Dakota were the top three, with some other, farther states like Pennsylvania also having some inflow to Colorado.
Figure 6: Job inflow to Colorado in the mining, quarrying, oil and natural gas extraction" sect.
Figure 7: Job inflow to Colorado in the mining, quarrying, oil and natural gas extraction" sect.
Lastly, here are the figures for the human health analysis. Asthma hospitalization rates varied by county considerably. That being said, some of the higher rates happened in urban areas were human activities, like the ones mentioned above, happen. Again, terrain likely also played a part in this, as counties with large valleys likely have higher concentrations of ozone and resulting hospitalizations. Interestingly, Colorado does not have an outstandingly high incidence rate of Lung Cancer, which isn't what one would expect after the analysis.
Figure 8: Asthma hospitalizations by county in Colorado.
Figure 9: Lung cancer rates by state.
This project was especially interesting, given it was working with local conditions that effect all Coloradans. The official report will be linked here for any further interest in the analysis and discussion of results. Expand the image to read further.
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