The Effects of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control in the Major Cities Around Beijing During the APEC Meeting

APEC meeting held in Beijing from November 3rd, 2014 to the 12th. As Hohhot is one of the focused cities surrounding the "Jing-Jin-Ji" region, the government of Inner Mongolia implemented some effective regulations of air pollution prevention and control during the meeting, which also had important scientific value because the place where the event happened. Based on the pollutant concentrations, conventional meteorological data and NCEP reanalysis data of current year and earlier, the paper mainly discussed the variety of air pollution and the effects of prevention and controlling. Main conclusions were following parts: (1) before the event, from October 14, 2014 to 25, Hohhot experienced mild or higher-level pollution for 11 days. This level was 37.5% higher than the same period of last year, and the particle concentration was higher than the earlier. At the beginning of the event, from October 26, the concentration of particulate matter in the city dropped significantly. During the event, from October 26 to December 13, the city's air quality was good, Air-pollution level fell by 100% comparing with the last period. (2) During the event period and earlier, there were no cold air activities in Hohhot, and weather conditions were not conducive to pollutant dispersion. In last period, 2 similar to 6 m / s southerly wind prevailed near the ground and air pollution continued. In contrast to last period, especially from November 2 to 11, stagnant weather sustained 10 days and 2 similar to 4 m / s southerly wind prevailed near the ground. Although the weather conditions were not good at pollutant dispersion, but the actual situation was that pollutants had been controlled effectively. (3) Aiming at the APEC meeting, Inner Mongolia government began to implement air quality protection program around October 25, and launched comprehensive prevention and control measures on November 1. Haze days in Hohhot were under full control, which should be a direct result of high intensity prevention and control. (4) This showed that we have the potential to solve the city's huge problem of air-pollution, of course, with a bit of work. So, there were reasons to be optimistic.