China Air Pollution Affects Global Weather

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
TOXIC ATMOSPHERE
DEADLY AIR POLLUTION
INTENSE STORMS
GLOBAL IMPACT
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Asian air pollution intensifies Pacific storms: Study

Air pollution in China and other Asian countries is affecting weather patterns across the Northern Hemisphere, as well as other parts of the globe, especially during winter, according to a study.

The particulate matter in the air are carried towards the north Pacific where they interact with water droplets in the air, causing the formation of denser clouds that result in more intense storms above the ocean, say researchers.

“Since the Pacific storm track is an important component in the global general circulation, the impacts of Asian pollution on the storm track tend to affect the weather patterns of other parts of the world during the wintertime, especially a downstream region [of the storm track] like North America,” said Dr Yuan Wang, the lead author.

“The impacts of Asian pollution on the storm track tend to affect the weather patterns of other parts of the world […] the effects are quite dramatic. The pollution results in thicker and taller clouds and heavier precipitation,” said Wang.

The impact of pollution on the weather pattern intensifies in the winter.

The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Convection depth in MMF and CAM for PD and PI over the northwest Pacific. Wang et al. PNAS

Abstract

Assessing the effects of anthropogenic aerosols on Pacific storm track using a multiscale global climate model

Atmospheric aerosols affect weather and global general circulation by modifying cloud and precipitation processes, but the magnitude of cloud adjustment by aerosols remains poorly quantified and represents the largest uncertainty in estimated forcing of climate change. Here we assess the effects of anthropogenic aerosols on the Pacific storm track, using a multiscale global aerosol–climate model (GCM). Simulations of two aerosol scenarios corresponding to the present day and preindustrial conditions reveal long-range transport of anthropogenic aerosols across the north Pacific and large resulting changes in the aerosol optical depth, cloud droplet number concentration, and cloud and ice water paths. Shortwave and longwave cloud radiative forcing at the top of atmosphere are changed by −2.5 and +1.3 W m−2, respectively, by emission changes from preindustrial to present day, and an increased cloud top height indicates invigorated midlatitude cyclones. The overall increased precipitation and poleward heat transport reflect intensification of the Pacific storm track by anthropogenic aerosols. Hence, this work provides, for the first time to the authors’ knowledge, a global perspective of the effects of Asian pollution outflows from GCMs. Furthermore, our results suggest that the multiscale modeling framework is essential in producing the aerosol invigoration effect of deep convective clouds on a global scale.

What about the US and EU Shares of Air Pollution, Dr Wang?

Interestingly, the report doesn’t say much about the air pollution created by the U.S. and EU.

Related Links

• Besotted by Beijing April 14, 2014
• Red Alert as Hazardous Smog Fills N China’s Shenyang March 27, 2014
• 7 Million People Killed by Air Pollution in 2012 March 25, 2014
• Killing Life in Beijing March 26, 2014

• EU Capitals Rivaling Beijing Air Pollution March 16, 2014
• Chinese Cities Unfit for Living March 8, 2014
• You’ve Created a World Unfit for Living February 28, 2014
• Apocalyptic Smog Covers 10 Percent of China February 25, 2014
• Hazardous Smog Continues Choking N China  February 24, 2014
• Beijing 398  February 23, 2014
• Derisory “Yellow Alert” as Brown Smog Bears on Beijing February 21, 2014
• Smog and Mirrors in Beijing February 16, 2014

For earlier posts on Beijing AQI, search blog content.

Besotted by Beijing

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
DEADLY AIR POLLUTION
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE
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Another major air poisoning episode underway in Beijing

China Cognitive Dissonance: Pollution is deadly; pollution is necessary to promote a “better” lifestyle!

Beijing AQI. Near real-time Air Quality Index. Source: aqicn.org

Related Links

• Red Alert as Hazardous Smog Fills N China’s Shenyang March 27, 2014
• 7 Million People Killed by Air Pollution in 2012 March 25, 2014
• Killing Life in Beijing March 26, 2014

• 7 Million People Killed by Air Pollution in 2012 March 25, 2014
• EU Capitals Rivaling Beijing Air Pollution March 16, 2014
• Chinese Cities Unfit for Living March 8, 2014
• You’ve Created a World Unfit for Living February 28, 2014
• Apocalyptic Smog Covers 10 Percent of China February 25, 2014
• Hazardous Smog Continues Choking N China  February 24, 2014
• Beijing 398  February 23, 2014
• Derisory “Yellow Alert” as Brown Smog Bears on Beijing February 21, 2014
• Smog and Mirrors in Beijing February 16, 2014

For earlier posts on Beijing AQI, search blog content.

EU Capitals Rivaling Beijing Air Pollution

ENVIRONMENTAL HOLOCAUST
TOXIC AIR POLLUTION
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In case the toxic air pollution didn’t kill you…

You don’t have to be a Martian to realize not only homo erectus remain non-extinct, they go around masquerading as intelligent species…

Take the toxic air pollution, for example, which is plaguing all major cities in the world.

France restricts driving in Paris to reduce hazardous smog

The French are introducing alternative driving days in the City of Lights in an attempt to reduce hazardous levels of air pollution.

Starting Monday, drivers can only use their vehicles in Paris and surrounding areas every other day.

The government decided to curb driving after air pollution remained at hazardous levels for five consecutive days in the metropolitan Paris [population: ~ 13 million.]

The PM pollution was so severe on Friday, the authorities waved public transport fees for three days to encourage people to leave their cars at home.

The PM10 figures for Paris topped 180 micro-grams per cubic meter (μgm–³), while Brussels recorded 160, Amsterdam 110, Berlin 85 and London exceeded 80.

Smog is expected to worsen on Monday, reports said.

Beijing AQI

The Beijing AQI on Sunday was between 200 and 255, or “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy.”

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.

Shanghai Air Pollution Shoots Off the Chart

Severe smog fills the air in China’s financial hub Shanghai

Shanghai’s air pollution index for PM2.5 rose above the hazardous level, hitting a maximum of 350, on Monday as smog shrouded the sky, according to various monitoring stations.

PM2.5 concentration of about 25 micrograms per cubic meter pose little or no risk, according to the World Health Organization, however, the reading for the particulate in Shanghai climbed to 14 times the “acceptable” volume on Monday.

“Shanghai saw deteriorating air quality over the weekend. The AQI index rose above 230 on Sunday, when the city held its annual Shanghai International Marathon,” said a report.

The marathon took place  despite the heavy pollution, said the report, with some participants wearing masks.

In Beijing the pollution index for PM2.5 rose to 269 Monday morning.

Related Links

• China’s Air Quality Chart Goes Apesh*t Again  October 28, 2013
• Air Pollution Levels Climb in China, India  October 27, 2013
• Major City Shuts Down in China Smog Emergency  October 21, 2013
• Breathtaking Beijing in ‘Maroon Alert’  October 4, 2013

Breathtaking Beijing in ‘Maroon Alert’

Beijing Air Pollution Shoots off the Chart, AGAIN

Beijing Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI). Source: aqicn.org

AQI in Beijing Municipality and Surrounding Areas

Air pollution in Beijing Municipality and surrounding areas @ 21:00 local time on October 4, 2013.  Source: aqicn.org

Shanghai Raises Heat Alert to ‘Red’

Heatwave continues to plague 13 provinces across China

The heat is forecast to last until the middle of August, with temperatures rising to 41ºC, said the meteorological authorities in China.

Tuesday was the fourth hottest day in August for Shanghai, after the city set a new all-time record-high of 40.6ºC on Friday, breaking the previous record high of 40.2ºC set nearly 80 years ago, said the report.

“The China Central Meteorological Center says high temperatures are reaching severe levels, with the hottest days to hit China’s south. The region may experience high temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius, whilst 7 provinces and municipalities including Hunan, Hubei and Chongqing may experience temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius.”

Air Quality Index

Meantime, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Beijing climbed to 271 on Tuesday, and the air pollution in Yangzhou City in east China’s Jiangsu Province turned the sky diabolic red.

Original caption: Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2013 shows the red clouds in the sky over Yangzhou City, east China’s Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Meng Delong). More images …

Related Links

• Major Catastrophe Unfolding in China
• China’s Latest Drought Disaster Figures

 

Now you see it, now you don’t …

Beijing Buried in Beige Again

Heavy smog shrouds Beijing again, – July 18, 2013. Source: Xinhua. Image may be subject to copyright. More images…

Beijing AQI: Beijing Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI). Source: http://aqicn.org/

Air Pollution Index.

Related Links

• Beijing Buried in Smog – Again! Posted on February 17, 2013
• Dense Smog Continues Choking Much of China February 1, 2013
• Beijing Buried in Heavy Smog – Take 4 Posted on January 29, 2013
• Heavy Smog Entombs Beijing Again Posted on January 23, 2013
• Breathtaking Beijing  Posted on January 14, 2013
• Hazardous Air Warnings in Beijing as Landslide Kills Dozens in SW China  Posted on January 12, 2013

Monsanto Chemical Found in Euro Urine

“Quantifiable levels” of Monsanto herbicide found in urine samples from 18 Euro countries

In a recent study by Medical Laboratory Bremen in Germany humane urine samples from 18 European countries showed residues of Glyphosate and the metabolite AMPA.

“On average 44 % and 36 % of the urine samples analyzed were found to contain quantifiable levels of Glyphosate and AMPA, respectively,” said the report.

• The frequency of detection ranged from 10% to 90%.  The highest Glyphosate concentration was 1,8 μg/L  in Latvia, followed by Malta, UK and Germany, while the highest AMPA concentration was 2,6 μg/L  found in Croatia.

• A total of 6.6% of  samples showed residues that “significantly exceeded the tentative reference value of 0,8 μg/L forGlyphosate,” the report said.

The report concludes; “The results give a first idea to which extent adults in 18 European countries are exposed to Glyphosate. The regional and individual variations are large. Diet seems to be the main sources of exposure. However, more scientific work is needed to distinguish between different exposure situations.”

Glyphosate was discovered to be a herbicide by a Monsanto chemist and was marketed in the 1970s under the trade name Roundup.

Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), an organic acid, is one of the primary degradation products of the herbicide glyphosate.

Both Glyphosate and AMPA are said to have low toxicity, with glyphosate being an EPA Toxicity Class III chemical (on a scale of I to IV, Class I is most toxic) for oral and inhalation exposure.

In 2007, Glyphosate was the most used herbicide in the United States, with about 100,000 tons applied  by the agricultural sector, government and home and garden users.

-oOo-

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Black Forest Fire: Initial Home Assessment

Updated: June 15, 2013 at approximately 12:00 a.m. (DST) – El Paso County Sheriff’s office

The extent of damage caused by the Black Forest Fire to homes in the region is as follows:

• Total Loss: 473
• Partial Damage: 17

Note: This is a preliminary home assessment. Due to continuous and dynamic fire activity the information could change.

The blaze was reportedly 30 percent contained, as of posting.

Related Links

• Initial Home Assessment
• Black Forest Fire Map – Thursday, June 13, 2013 – 5:00 p.m.

-oOo-

Another Toxic Weekend in Beijing

Beijing Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI). Source: AQICN

Early Fire Season: Red Flag Warnings in 3 States

Large blaze erupts in N. Colorado amid record high temperatures

A Colorado wildfire forced hundreds of evacuations on Saturday afternoon west of Fort Collins.

• The fire started accidentally on Friday afternoon amid record high temperatures and high winds, consuming about 1,000 acres in less than 24 hours.

• The blaze erupted in a residential community near Lory State Park, close to the area where massive wildfires destroyed hundreds of homes in 2012.

• The authorities sent up to 900 evacuation notices on Friday, however, the blaze was 45% contained by late Saturday, and the evacuees were told they could return home.

• The residents were warned they may have to evacuate again.

Red Flag Warnings were in effect for most of New Mexico, and W Texas and SE Colorado. Source: NWS

Related Links

• Waldo Canyon fire the most destructive in Colorado history: Officials
• Destructive Wildfire Activity Intensifies in Colorado June 28, 2012

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Toxic smog smothers Beijing again for the third consecutive day

Beijing Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI). Source: Insdio. Image may be subject to copyright.

AQI Chart

Related Links

• China’s Dangerous Air Pollution Extends to Japan March 12, 2013
• Thousands of Dead Pigs Dumped in Shanghai River March 11, 2013
• China Shrouded in Sand, Dust and PM March 10, 2013

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March 17, 2013 — DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,091 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,091 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 16, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

China’s Dangerous Air Pollution Extends to Japan

Beijing AQI: ‘Very Unhealthy’ Again

Tick clouds of smog from China rolled across southern Japan, as sandstorms reduced visibility forcing many flight cancellations in airports  across the region starting Sunday March 10, reports said.

• The sandstorm is believed to have contributed to unseasonably high temperatures across the Japan. Tokyo reported a high of 25.3ºC — the highest ever recorded for March since record-keeping began in 1876, NHK said.

Beijing PM-2.5 level, Tuesday 12 March 2013 @22:00. Source: Insdio

AQI Chart

AQI for other cities across China

Related Links

• Thousands of Dead Pigs Dumped in Shanghai River March 11, 2013
• China Shrouded in Sand, Dust and PM March 10, 2013

Major winter storm is wreaking havoc across Europe

Heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures forced the closure of Frankfurt International Airport, Europe’s third-largest, as hundreds of flights across other European airports were cancelled.

• The Eurostar high-speed train service between London and Paris was also suspended due to heavy snow in France and Belgium.
• “All Eurostar services are currently disrupted and are subject to severe delays,” said a statement on Eurostar’s website. “Our advice to passengers is not to travel today and not to come to our stations.”

• Freezing temperatures follow the unusually warm spell last week that saw temperatures up to 20ºC (68 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of Germany.

Major outbreak of Hand-foot-mouth (HFM) disease  in Vietnam

HFM,  a contagious viral disease, targets mostly infants and children. The disease has affected more than 10,000 people in Vietnam the first two months of this year, said the Vietnamese Ministry of Health.

.

March 12, 2013 – DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,096 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,096 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs