This book written by an international group of experts from China Europe and the USA
presents a broad and comprehensive analysis of the chemical and meteorological processes
responsible for the formation of air pollutants in eastern Asia and in particular for the
development of severe pollution episodes observed primarily during winter in the northeastern
part of China. With the rapid population growth economic development and urbanization
occurring in Asia air pollution has become a major environmental problem in this part of the
world. The book is organized around six distinct parts. The first part of the volume offers a
general perspective on issues related to air pollution including persistent haze events in
eastern and southern Asia. The second part presents an overview of air pollution sources (i.e.
anthropogenic and biomass burning sources). The third part analyzes in-situ observations of
chemical species in China while the fourth part focuses on space observations of gas-phase and
aerosol species. The modeling aspects are treated in the fifth part of the volume which
includes a presentation of several air quality forecast systems and an assessment of the role
of urbanization on air pollution levels. Finally the effects of air pollution on health and
crop productivity in China are discussed in the last part of the book. The book also presents
an integrated view of past and present situations in Asia and provides the scientific basis
from which mitigation policies can be established and air quality can be improved. Audience:
This book is written for scientists educators students environmental managers policy-makers
and leaders in public administration and private corporations who wish to use science-based
information to mitigate air pollution. The book should help decision-makers to design effective
policies for air quality improvement and to successfully manage short-term air pollution
episodes that substantially affect people's quality of life and strongly impact the economy.
