Selected Studies of the Atmosphere with an Emphasis on Air Quality in China and on Prospects for Wind and Solar Energy as Potential Future Substitutes for Fossil Fuel

本项目旨在提高人们对中国快速工业化的重要性和后果的认识，不仅对中国的环境，而且对整个世界的环境。中国现在是世界上最大的二氧化碳（CO2）排放国，而且很可能在二氧化硫（SO2）和氮氧化物（NOx）排放方面也处于领先地位。本研究将对影响中国臭氧（O3）和其他重要化学物质丰度的过程进行研究，广泛使用GEOS-Chem三维模型，将该模型应用于2004年与清华大学同事合作建立的观测站的测量数据，该观测站位于北京东北约100公里的农村地区密云。自2004年12月以来，该站点基本上可以获得O3、CO（一氧化碳）和CO2的连续数据，最近还可以获得NO、NOy和SO2的连续测量数据。应对当前和未来潜在的气候变化挑战被认为是一个全球性的重要目标。最终结果将在很大程度上取决于中国的发展决策。这里概述的研究将纳入哈佛大学与中国机构和同事合作开展的一个更大的多学科项目，该项目旨在为未来发展确定最佳的可持续道路。这项研究的结果将纳入哈佛大学本科生和研究生的培训和教学中，并将及时在专业科学文献中发表。

This project is intended to improve understanding of the importance and consequences of rapid industrialization in China not only for the environment of China but also for the environment of the world as a whole. China is now the world's largest national emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) and leads most likely also in emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). This research will implement studies of the processes affecting the abundance of ozone (O3) and other important chemical species in China, making extensive use of the GEOS-Chem 3-dimensional model applying the model to, among other sources of data, measurements from an observing station established in 2004 in collaboration with colleagues at Tsinghua University at Miyun, a rural site located approximately 100 km northeast of Beijing. Essentially continuous data on O3, CO (carbon monoxide) and CO2 are available from this site since December, 2004, complemented more recently by continuous measurements of NO, NOy and SO2. Addressing the challenge of potential present and future climate change is recognized as a globally significant objective. The ultimate outcome will depend in large measure on development decisions made in China. The research outlined here will feed into a larger multi-disciplinary program at Harvard conducted in collaboration with Chinese institutions and colleagues seeking to identify optimal sustainable paths for future development. The results of this research will be integrated into the training and teaching of both undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard and will be published in a timely basis in the professional scientific literature.