Argonne helps improve air quality for 2008 Beijing Olympics
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ARGONNE, Ill. (April 13, 2007) — To improve the air quality of Beijing
and ensure a healthy atmosphere for athletes and spectators at the 2008 Summer
Olympics, the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has
been working with leading institutions, including the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, the University
of Tennessee, Tsinghua
University, Peking University and the Chinese
Academy of Sciences.
The team has researched and modeled the local and regional contributors to
Beijing's air quality, leading to a greater understanding of regional air
quality management and development of new emission control strategies. The
modeling study has been widely cited by Chinese policy makers, including the
Beijing mayor, in requesting the government to implement unprecedented regional
control programs to ensure that the air quality goals for 2008 will be met
in Beijing.
This research was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to promote air quality in developing countries and provide a better understanding
of regional air quality management and emission control strategies. The report,
"Air quality during the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games," is available online.
"Air quality in Beijing in the summertime is dictated by meteorology
and topography," said David Streets, a senior scientist in Argonne's Decision
and Information Sciences Division. "Typically,
temperatures are high, humidity is high, wind speeds are low, and the surrounding
hills restrict venting of pollution. Thus, regional pollutants and ozone build
up over several days until dispersed by wind or removed by rain.
"Our modeling suggests that emission sources far from Beijing exert a
significant influence on Beijing's air quality," Streets said. "Typical
industrial, coal-burning cities within several hundred kilometers of Beijing
add to the local pollution. In these areas, emission controls on stationary
sources and vehicles are not as stringent as in Beijing, and emissions are
high. Each province's contribution varies dramatically from day to day, depending
on wind direction and other meteorological factors.
"The Olympic Games are of paramount importance to China," he said, "and
great steps have already been taken to ensure success."
"The United States is diligently working with cities like Beijing to improve
environmental controls and reduce emissions in the face of rapid economic development," said
Steve Page, director of EPA's Office
of Air Quality Planning & Standards. "Over
the past several years, Beijing has implemented a number of measures to improve
air quality, and China is now looking at regional approaches to meeting air
quality standards similar to successful approaches used in the U.S. The air
quality improvements from their actions will benefit everyone."
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology.
The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic
and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne
researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities,
and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific
problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for
a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed
by UChicago
Argonne, LLC for
the U.S.
Department of Energy's Office
of Science.
For more information, please
contact Eleanor Taylor (630/252-5510 or media@anl.gov)
at Argonne.
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