Air Pollution as Seen From the Skies
From Mt. Etna to China to the Sahara, these striking satellite images of air pollution are from both natural and man-made causes
- By Sarah Zielinski
- Smithsonian.com, April 20, 2010
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(NASA)
Haze Blankets Eastern China
Chinese cities have some of the worst air quality in the world. Much of the country’s electricity comes from burning coal, which releases millions of tons per year of sulfur dioxide and particulates into the air. China's coal tends to be of a lower quality than what is burned in the United States and produces higher sulfur emissions. In the eastern part of China, geography and weather can exacerbate the effects of pollution: mountains in the west trap smoke, dust and other particles over the eastern plain, where, under certain meteorological conditions, the haze becomes trapped for days. Nearly all of the approximately 600 million people who live in China’s cities, out of a total population of 1.3 billion, breathe this filthy air.
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Comments (6)
Isn't this the annual chamzeen wind which may even be the biblical plague 'darkness'. Having lived in Egypt I have been in it diectly and also in Europe woke up to a fine coating of Saharan dust. There are many new 'man made' pollutes.This however is an age old event. I think we need to keep the focus on the many new dangers we make and face.
Posted by Ash on June 13,2011 | 11:14 PM
Unfortunately, we may be looking at the future of the United States if present forces trying to eliminate or defund the EPA are successful. Some of my friends here in Southern California remember being able to see the air they were breathing in the days before smog control rules and regulations were put in place. We should not scrificeour environment for corporate profits.
Posted by Ross McIntosh on March 3,2011 | 08:46 PM
"...then, had the unmitigated gall to dump all the world's problems squarely onto the laps of the Chinese and wait patiently for them to come up with a solution to save the world"
Why not, that's what the world had been doing to the US for about 50 years now.
Posted by oh'rily on November 10,2010 | 12:07 PM
@ W.D. Box
Ever been to China? Ever lived in one of the polluted Eastern cities? I grew up in Los Angeles, the most heavily polluted area of the U.S. and I now live in one of those "Eastern Chinese" cities. The pollution in Los Angeles in the 1970s was NEVER as bad as what millions of Chinese breathe every single day. Chinese pollution is a Chinese problem. The U.S. and the West have almost pristine urban air now compared to the "Eastern Chinese" cities. Every country is responsible for their own problems, pollution or otherwise.
Posted by jaylingo on May 3,2010 | 05:08 AM
@Frank
Well, you covered economics, trade balance, currency manipulation, nationalism, clean energy, politics; then, had the unmitigated gall to dump all the world's problems squarely onto the laps of the Chinese and wait patiently for them to come up with a solution to save the world (which it seems they must do, because others care not).
One thing that you've conveniently omitted, however, are the three or four hundred years of Western civilization's contribution to pollution before the Chinese decided to participate. The U.S., the biggest offender for nearly all the 20th Century, only recently relinquishing the number one position to China in a race to kill all mankind with contaminated air.
It's a problem for the World to solve, Frank. Not just the Chinese. The idea for heavy investment to clean up the environment is an excellent one - led by U.S. dollars!
Posted by W.D. Box on April 22,2010 | 09:48 PM
China, with its rapid economic development and favorable balance of trade by manipulating its currency to the detriment of countries like the USA, should invest heavily in clean energy and better emission controls so that its people and the world have cleaner air.These are fantastic pictures.It is sad to read that about 600 million chinese are forced to breathe this horrible air.It shows the lack of compassion,insensitivity,and arrogance of the ruling leaders of this dictactorship nation.
Posted by frank de varona on April 22,2010 | 01:28 PM