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Long-Term Solution Needed for Beijing Air Quality Improvements

Posted on Thursday, 24 July 2008 by neeners01

A study by Streets, Fu, Jang, Hao, He, Tang et al. (2007) proved that the rapid economic growth in China has actually reversed any progress toward air pollution reduction before the August Olympics commence. In fact, this study actually determined that Beijing itself wasn’t the highest polluter but industries in the outlying areas caused more damage. The main concerns are particulate matter and ozone, both which fell consistently above healthful standards during the summer 2007. If weather conditions, such as a simple wind gust, blow the PM and ozone from outlying areas over the Olympic stadium, it won’t matter what efforts Beijing takes to control their own air quality. The pollutants will waft over from other areas reversing any efforts to clean the Beijing air. If this occurs, the millions of dollars spent to reduce emissions in Beijing would simply be (to coin a phrase) “gone with the wind.”

Although prompted by the Olympics, Beijing’s air problem is more complex than originally thought. The Streets et al. (2007) study indicates that a short-term solution for China’s air pollution (such as what’s being done during the two weeks of the Olympic Games) is not the answer. Researchers are now looking at long-term solutions for the country’s air quality. In a recent NASA study, new satellite sensor capabilities now offer the first measurement-based estimate of the amount of pollution from various sources such as forest fire, urban exhaust, and industrial production that can travel via weather conditions. This type of sensors could be used to aid in determining solutions for air pollution.

In addition, Streets et al. (2007) also recommended the use of new measurement and modeling technologies for studying air quality in the region much like the US’s current Models-3/Community Multi-scale Air Quality modeling system simulation. In essence, this type of measurement used in connection with meteorological technology could aid in controlling emissions and emission directions. Unfortunately, there is no time left to do anything of this nature for the 2008 games. Yet, work should continue on such efforts if China is to have cleaner air for future generations.


Current additional news – Beijing air quality


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– Nina M. Bell, CFRE

References:
Streets, D., Fu, J., Jang, C., Hao, J., He., K., Tang, X. et al. (2007). Air quality during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Atmospheric Environment, 41, 480-492.

Further information on Beijing Smog at the 2008 Olympics is available HERE.

Long-Term Solution Needed for Beijing Air Quality Improvements
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