Pollution in China Could impact our air

Marin County, Calif. Nov. 6, 2007 - KGO (KGO) -- The problem with China's pollution stretches well beyond that country's borders. In fact, contaminants from China are being detected in the Bay Area. But scientists are tracking how air pollution there, could impact climate change here.

You may have heard about the 'high road to China.' Well, atop Marin County's Mount Tamalpais, here's a different one -- more like the 'winding road to China.'

It requires no passport, just a key. No packing, just a heavy coat because the wind can blow at this old Nike missile radar station where Dr. Steve Cliff collects China in a box.

"It's simply a device for pulling particles out of the air," said UC Davis researcher Steve Cliff, Ph.D.

Dust, dirt, chemicals, pollution that through X-ray analysis at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, he has determined that, travel in the jet stream all the way across the Pacific from Asia.

Each of those little lines is the residue from one hour of sampling.

"We don't see any slowdown of pollution in Asia. In fact, with more coal plants coming on line every ten days, we expect an increase," said Cliff.

China continues to be among the world's worst polluters. A booming economy pushed along by coal fired power plants air already fouled by dust storms and traffic. It's a health risk there, but probably not here. Even so, traces of those pollutants make the journey.

Steve has three units: One in Mount Tamalpais, another on Mount Lassen and a third at Donner Summit. The material they collect is in micrograms and yet it could have a significant impact on the climate in this country.

"Some particles reflect radiation, so they tend to cool the earth. Other particles absorb radiation and they tend to warm the earth. Other particles are responsible for forming clouds," said Cliff.

Steve's research is another example of how the atmosphere knows no borders; what goes into it, carries around, whether smoke from oil fires in Kuwait or volcanic eruptions, or the carbon dioxide emissions from millions and millions of cars. And if you think we're at clean in California&

This is what carries downwind from San Francisco, Sacramento, the railroad and interstate 80. It moves west across the rest of our country; a lot more here than in those traces from China.

"The reality is that everybody has some effect on the climate system," said Cliff.

So if breathing isn't believing -- then seeing is. All you need is a little box on a mountain top and an electronic synchrotron to read it.

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