China's supercomputer technology used to monitor smog

A computer model capable of more accurately forecasting and analyzing the cause of smoggy days is expected to be put into operation in the following three to five years.

The simulation model will be developed using the technology of Tianhe-1A, which ranked as the world's fastest supercomputer from November 2010 to June 2011, and the model's data will be revised in light of actual observation data from other monitors, said Meng Xiangfei, a researcher with the National Supercomputer Center (NSC) in Tianjin.

The model is also expected to forecast weather conditions further in advance compared with current air quality monitors in operation, according to Meng.

Chinese environmental authorities have set up 668 monitoring spots in 114 cities and have released the data daily online and through traditional media.

"The formation of smog is related in different regions, and atmospheric, physical, chemical and biological factors are involved in the process," Meng added.

Remarkable achievement has been made in the fields of aerospace, weather forecasts, climate prediction and ocean environment simulation since the Tianhe-1A was put into operation three years ago.

The project, which is a collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, the National Meteorological Center, Tsinghua University and the NSC in Tianjin, will also provide a reference for decisions about regional planning.

According to the Actions to Address Climate Change 2013 annual report released last month by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the frequency of smog has increased over the past 50 years in China.