Smog and Mirrors in Beijing

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
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Beijing issues a mere “blue alert” amid persistent toxic air pollution

The latest round of dense  smog in Beijing has now lasted several days, showing little sign of abating and triggering public criticism over the municipal government’s inaction, said a report.

“Blue” is the lowest of  a four-tier alert system indicating the severity of air pollution.

Source: waqi. info

Toxic Brown SEA. Source: waqi. info

Air Pollution Chart based on EPA recommendations.

Related Links

• “Breathtaken” Beijing Brown January 16, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Smothers China January 14, 2014
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Paralyzes Much of China December 6, 2013
• “Apocalyptic” Smog Turns Skies Yellow in North, East China December 5, 2013
• Shanghai Air Pollution Shoots Off the Chart Posted on December 2, 2013

• China’s Air Quality Chart Goes Apesh*t Again  October 28, 2013
• Air Pollution Levels Climb in China, India  October 27, 2013
• It won’t get any better, before it gets a lot worse! October 22, 2013
• Major City Shuts Down in China Smog Emergency October 21, 2013
• Smog Forces China’s Expressways Closures October 6, 2013
• Breathtaking Beijing in ‘Maroon Alert’  October 4, 2013
• Air Pollution: Visibility Down to 10 Meters in E China September 30, 2013

For earlier posts, search blog content.

Forest Fires Rage Out of Control in Sichuan, SW China

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENTS
RAGING FOREST FIRES
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What little forest left …

Photo dated February 15, 2014 shows a forest fire raging out of control on a mountain in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. Source: Xinhua/Cheng Xueli

Massive Snowstorm Paralyzes Tokyo, Much of Japan

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR SNOWSTORM
RECORD SNOWFALL
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Record snowfall plagues Japan, killing at least 11, injuring hundreds

The second major snowstorm to batter Japan in one week left at least 11 people dead and more than 1,200 others injured.

More heavy snow is forecast along the Pacific Coast of Tohoku through Sunday, as officials warn of strong winds and avalanches.

Tokyo and surrounding areas were pounded by record snowfall Friday through Saturday morning. The extreme event forced cancellations of up to a thousand flights, suspensions of many train services and severe  disruptions to road traffic.

Hundreds of thousands of people were stranded at train stations and airports throughout the country, as snowstorm knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes in 7 prefectures.

Up to 30cm of snow left large sections of expressways in and around Tokyo impassable, reported NHK.

“On the Tomei Expressway linking Tokyo and Aichi Prefecture, vehicles have remained virtually stranded for more than 20 hours in Shizuoka Prefecture. The jam stretches for about 40 kilometers.”

The Shinkansen bullet train services were suspended on lines linking the capital with Nagano prefecture in  central Japan, Niigata pref. on the Japan Sea Coast, and Yamagata pref. in the northeast, said the report.

Related Links

• Japan Hit by Major Snowstorm  February 8, 2014