In early October 2010, a high-pressure weather system settled over eastern China, and air pollution began to build up for nearly a week. By 9 October, China's National Environmental Monitoring Centre declared air quality 'poor' to 'hazardous' around Beijing and in 11 eastern provinces. Visibility was reduced to 100m in some areas, and at least 32 people died in traffic accidents caused by the poor visibility, and many more suffered with asthma and other respiratory problems. The Ozone Monitoring Instrument on Nasa's Aura satellite detected extremely high levels of aerosol particles (visible in the lower left of image) and sulphur dioxide, from coal-fired power plants (lower right) on 8 October. Peak concentrations were six to eight times the norm for China, and 20 times the norm for the US
The Guardian
Comments