July 27, 2008
Beijing Olympics: Trying to Clear the Air for the Games
In less than two weeks, the summer Olympic Games begin in Beijing China. The air quality in China has been a major concern for Olympic planners and athletes, just like it was for Los Angeles during the 1984 Summer Games. Cities in China have some of the worst air quality in the world (Beijing is ranked 13th most polluted by some measures). Their air pollution is a mix of anthropogenic pollutants from industry, vehicles, and home heating/cooking (with coal briquettes), as well as occasional dust from the deserts to the west.
China has been taking measures to reduce the air pollution in Beijing in advance of the Games, including shutting down highly polluting industries and imposing restrictions on driving in the city based on odd and even number license plates. However, as we know from the satellite images we use to observe air quality in the U.S., air pollution (especially fine particles) is a regional problem so this will be a difficult challenge.
Beijing and northeast China experienced very poor air quality today, as seen in this MODIS Aqua image (below left). Newspaper accounts describe the pollution and the Chinese government's attempts to address it. The BBC has a PM10 monitor and reported increased particle concentrations the last 5 or 6 days (image on the right, Source: BBC). They are even running a Pollution Watch page, complete with pictures and reported measurements.
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We will be posting on air quality in China in the coming days and during the Games, as part of our special international coverage. We look forward to watching the marvelous array of events in this amazing country, as well as reporting on their extraordinary efforts to clear the air.
Posted by Jill Engel-Cox at July 27, 2008 11:50 PM