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From nuclear power to coal power: Aerosol‐induced health and radiative effects
Author(s) -
Mielonen Tero,
Laakso Anton,
Karhunen Anni,
Kokkola Harri,
Partanen AnttiIlari,
Korhonen Hannele,
Romakkaniemi Sami,
Lehtinen Kari E. J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1002/2015jd024183
Subject(s) - environmental science , aerosol , coal , atmospheric sciences , radiative transfer , climate change , coal combustion products , greenhouse gas , population , climate model , air quality index , nuclear power , global warming , climatology , meteorology , waste management , environmental health , physics , nuclear physics , engineering , medicine , ecology , quantum mechanics , biology , geology
We have investigated what would be the climate and PM‐induced air quality consequences if all nuclear reactors worldwide were closed down and replaced by coal combustion. In a way, this presents a “worst‐case scenario” since less polluting energy sources are available. We studied simultaneously the radiative and health effects of coal power emissions using a global 3‐D aerosol‐climate model (ECHAM‐HAMMOZ). This approach allowed us to estimate the effects of a major global energy production change from low carbon source to a high carbon one using detailed spatially resolved population density information. We included the radiative effects of both CO 2 and PM 2.5 but limited the study of health effects to PM 2.5 only. Our results show that the replacement of nuclear power with coal power would have globally caused an average of 150,000 premature deaths per year during the period 2005–2009 with two thirds of them in Europe. For 37 years the aerosol emissions from the additional coal power plants would cool the climate but after that the accumulating CO 2 emissions would accelerate the warming of the climate.