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Understanding and Solving China's Air Pollution Problems

This article discusses the history of air pollution in China, including the impact of industrialization and specific events like the "Killer Fog" of 1952. It also examines the two main air pollutants, PM2.5 and ozone, and their effects on health and the environment. The Chinese government's efforts to improve air quality through the Clean Air Action are highlighted, as well as the need to control NOx and organic emissions. The article concludes by addressing the future challenges of climate change and the potential of geostationary satellite observations for monitoring and forecasting air pollution in Asia.

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Understanding and Solving China's Air Pollution Problems

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  1. Working to understand and solve China’s air pollution problems Daniel J. Jacob Vasco McCoy Family Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry & Environmental Engineering School of Engineering & Applied Science Department of Earth & Planetary Science Ke Li Lu Shen Shixian Zhai

  2. The industrial revolution and air pollution US in the 1940s

  3. London fog: first evidence of air pollution deaths Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)from domestic+industrial coal combustion “Killer fog” of December 1952 caused 10,000 deaths in 4 days Altitude inversion < 1km Sulfur dioxide (SO2) sulfate soot particles (PM2.5) Coal combustion Temperature

  4. Respiratory problems, vegetation damage due to high surface ozone Los Angeles smog: first evidence of ozone air pollution altitude produced by photolysis of oxygen (O2) stratosphere ~ 10 km troposphere temperature ozone inversion ~ 1 km Sunlight Nitrogen oxides (NOx≡ NO + NO2) Organic compounds radicals Ozone (O3) PM2.5 vehicles, industry, vegetation

  5. The two main air pollution killers todayare still fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone Million environmental deaths per year worldwide (2010) OECD [2012]

  6. US EPA standard Life Expectancy vs annual PM2.51978-82 Boston Topeka Steubenville, OH Pope, Ezzati, Dockery. NEJM 2009; 360:376

  7. US EPAstandard Life Expectancy vs annual PM2.51997-2001 Boston Steubenville Topeka Pope, Ezzati, Dockery. NEJM 2009; 360:376

  8. Particulate matter (PM2.5) observed from satellite US air quality standard China air quality standard http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth

  9. What are the principal sources of air pollution in China? Transportation NOx Coal power plants SO2, NOx Organics, soot Domestic coal use Agricultural fires SO2, soot PM2.5 Dust Organics, NOx Industry

  10. In 2013, the Chinese government initiated the “Clean Air Action” • Scrubbing of emissions from coal combustion • Bans on residential coal combustion • Closing of polluting industries • Emission standards for vehicles • Bans on agricultural fires • Encouragement of renewable energy sources

  11. Clean Air Action has led to great improvement in PM2.5 air quality Annual PM2.5 at China Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) sites 2013-2017 decrease of 30-40% in all urban areas Zhai et al. [2019]

  12. Improvement is mostly due to control of SO2 from coal combustion Sichuan Basin observations Chinese emissions inventory nitrogen oxides CO (organics) PM2.5 Solvents Transportation Residential Industry Electricity SO2 Organics Next task is to control NOx and organic emissions Zheng et al. [2018]; Zhai et al. [2019]

  13. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions in China Satellite observations (2017) Emission trends CO2, H2O Fuel (CxHy) Monthly average Annual average Combustor High temperature Air (N2, O2) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) Shah et al., in preparation

  14. Satellite observations (formaldehyde) Organic emissions in China 2005-2016 trends • Industrial sources have increased • (except in Sichuan) • Decreases in rural regions from bans • in agricultural fires increase decrease Shen et al. [2019]

  15. Decreasing NOx and organic emissions would help both PM2.5 and ozone pollution Chinese standard is 80 ppbv Li et al. [2019]

  16. Unlike PM2.5, ozone pollution is getting worse Trends at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment sites

  17. Decrease in PM2.5 pollution may be responsible for increase in ozone Sunlight particles radicals Nitrogen oxides Organics Ozone Model increase in ozone due to PM changes 2013-2017 decrease in PM pollution may have increased radicals available for ozone production Li et al. [2019]

  18. Observed ozone depletion at high PM2.5 in Beijing As PM2.5 continues to decrease, we need to aggressively decrease NOx and organic emissions Li et al., in preparation

  19. Working with NUIST and the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop an ozone pollution control strategy 科技日报 江苏科技报

  20. Recognition by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment

  21. Meteorological conditions leading to winter pollution events: Low wind speeds, high relative humidity How will these conditions change as the climate changes?

  22. Effect of 21st century climate change on Chinese winter haze Meteorological changes predicted by ensemble of IPCC climate models Change in wind speed Change in relative humidity Lower humidity in China in future climate should improve air quality Shen et al. [2018]

  23. GEMS: geostationary satellite for observing air pollution in Asia Planned for launch in 2019 by Korean Space Agency • Geostationary orbit will allow continuous observation: • Monitoring emissions • Detecting episodes • Forecasting air quality Interpreting these observations is a next grand challenge for atmospheric chemists

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