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

中科院欲斥5亿建世界最大雾霾实验室 占地50亩

中国科学院提出应加快建设大型大气环境模拟舱，为我国灰霾治理提供平台。事实上，大型烟雾箱建设只是“大气环境模拟系统研究计划”一个组成部分。按照规划，包括两个大型烟雾箱在内，该研究计划一共由六大系统及其辅助设施构成，总投资5亿元，规划占地50亩。[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.