China plans to build world’s largest 'smog lab'  

中科院欲斥5億建世界最大霧霾實驗室 占地50畝

中國科學院提出應加快建設大型大氣環境模擬艙，為我國灰霾治理提供平臺。事實上，大型煙霧箱建設只是“大氣環境模擬系統研究計劃”一個組成部分。按照規劃，包括兩個大型煙霧箱在內，該研究計劃一共由六大系統及其輔助設施構成，總投資5億元，規劃占地50畝。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is planning to spend 500 million yuan ($80 million) to build the world's largest "smog lab," reported the West China Metropolis Daily on Wednesday.

The fan-shaped lab would cover an area of 3.3 hectares and help provide solutions to the smog shrouding Chinese cities by using a "smog chamber" to simulate the country's atmospheric environment.

The chamber that can create conditions similar to smog and help researchers study the chemical reactions of different mixtures of pollutants, according to He Hong, a researcher and lead scientist in charge of the project.

Similar smog chambers have been built in several other countries including Germany, Spain and the US.

"We need our own smog chamber, because the theories explaining smog in other countries are inadequate when applied to the environmental conditions of China's cities," said He.

The plan is still awaiting approval from policymakers, he added.

The lab would feature six major systems, including an atmospheric aerosol simulation vessel, an atmospheric photochemistry simulation vessel, a numerical simulation system, an observation station, a testing station, and pre-simulation and supporting facilities.