Better Air Quality in Asian and Pacific Rim Cities (BAQ 2002)16-18 December 2002, Hong Kong SAR

The Trend of Acid Rain in China

W. Wang 1,3, T. Wang 2, J. Guo 3, G. Ding 4, Haireti 3

1 Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing (Email:wxwang99@hotmail.com)

2 Department of Civil & Structural Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic

University, Hong Kong (Email: cetwang@polyu.edu.hk)3 Center of Environmental Science and Technology, Beijing University of

Chemical Technology, Beijing4 Chinese Research Academy of Meteorological Sciences,

Beijing

CONTENTSCONTENTS INTRUDUCTION BRIEF REVIEW OF ACID RAIN

RESEARCH IN CHINA SOME RESULTS DURING 1980s-1990s CONTROL EFFORT DISCUSSION

INTRUDUCTION:　WHAT IS ACID RAIN?

Fig.1. Acid rain and its effect on environment (from D. I. Abriton, NOAA)

Fig.2. Consumption and composition of energy in China

during 1949 - 2000

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

en

erg

y co

nsu

mp

tio

n, %

total coal consump. X10 8/ 8 t crude coal % crude oil %

Oil

CoalTotal

A BRIEF REVIEW OF ACID RAIN　　　 RESEARCH IN the 1980s AND　　 1990s

　Acid rain research has been conducted for more

than 20 years, since it was discovered in 1970s. It

includes the following five stages:

Phase I. Nationwide Acid Rain Monitoring (1981-1982)

Phase II. Status and Damage of Acid Rain in representative

　　　　 areas (1985-1986)

Phase III. Acid Rain Study (1986-1990)

Phase IV. Acid Deposition and Ecological Effect (1991-199

5)

Phase V. State Plan of Acid Rain Control (1996-2000)

Fig.3. Contours of annual mean pH of precipitation in 1981-1983

Phase I. Nationwide Acid Rain Monitoring (1981-1982)

Fig.4. Contours of annual mean pH of precipitation in 1992-1993

Phase IV. Acid Deposition and Ecological Effect (1991-1995)

Fig.5. Contours of Annual mean pH of Precipitation in 2000

Phase V. State Plan of Acid Rain Control (1996-2000)

Table 2. The concentrations of SO42- and NO3

- in precipitation in acid rain areas 1992-1993 μeq./L

province SO 42- NO 3

- SO 42- /NO 3

-

Fujian 104.46 14.02 7.45

Jiangxi 160.31 19.62 8.17

Hunan 128. 30 18. 07 7. 10Zhejiang 109. 71 17. 98 6. 10Hubei 129. 46 22. 40 5. 78Anhui 106. 79 21. 37 5. 00Jiangsu 166. 30 20. 88 7. 96Shangdong 161. 51 22. 64 7. 13

average 133. 36 19. 62 6. 80

CONTROL EFFORT OF ACID RAIN IN CHINA

In order to control acid rain, the Chinese government has taken

several actions to reduce SO2 emissions. Among them, the most

effective measure was the industrial reforms, namely developing high-

technology sectors, and shutting down facilities with severe pollution

and poor economic performance.

- Between 1996 and 2000, over 80,000 plants were forced to stop

production or closed down, as a result, energy consumption especially

coal consumption was reduced significantly: raw coal consumptions

were reduced from 1.46 billion tons in 1996 to 1.2 billion tons in 2000,

resulting in reduction of SO2 and NOX emissions of about 4.5 million

tons and 2 million tons respectively. This effectively prevented the

further deterioration of acid rain in China and is unprecedented in the

short time in the world’s acid rain history.

The estimated SO2 and NOX emissions and observed rainwater acidity

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

SO

2,NO

x,em

issi

on

SO2 2X10 6 t

NOx X10 6 t

Future Trend of Acid Rain in China

● The Chinese government plans to spend 300 billion

RMB on air-pollution control in 2001-2005. With the

consideration of need of heavy capital investments in SO2

control technology and the high operating costs, economic

reforms will continue to play a key role in the reduction of

SO2 emissions.

3 Future Research Needs

- Develop updated emission inventories

- Investigate the cause of increasing trend of acidity in th

e northern region and some areas in the south

- Understand better inter-region transport, ecological

impact and sources of emissions warrant further

research.

-Address the linkage between acid rain and particulate m

atter and tropospheric ozone pollution

THANK YOU !THANK YOU !