Pollution From Asia Affects US Climate

sciencehabit writes "China and India are some of the world's top polluters, with countless cars, factories, and households belching more than 2 million metric tons of carbon soot and other dark pollutants into the air every year. The pall hanging over the region has come to be known as 'the Asian brown cloud.' These pollutants aren't just bad news for the countries themselves. A new study reveals that they can affect climate thousands of kilometers away, warming the United States by up to 0.4C by 2024, while cooling other regions (abstract)."

Comments

Re:Its a blessing

[khallow]

There's a solution here. Stop acting like a whacked out kook and someone might be willing to talk with you. Pretending as you do, that mass is the sole measure of pollution rather than the harm it does, is profoundly irrational. I knew from the start that you were going to pull out carbon dioxide, even though it is painfully obvious that it is nowhere as polluting as what is normally considered a pollutant.

A ton of carbon dioxide dispersed in the environment just doesn't have the same effect that a ton of mercury has on the environment or human health. As long as you ignore toxicity and other measures of the harm of pollution, you can't have a sensible discussion on the topic.

Re:America never generate any pollution?

[thej1nx]

Or maybe, they are managing the best they can, despite the nuclear technology related sanctions enforced on them by USA? I mean face it, a heavily industrialized and populated country like India needs nuclear power plants. If they could be allowed to have the technology and components, hybrid electrical cars might actually become feasible there. They can simply rely on relatively-clean energy rather than depending on using firewood and oil. But USA apparently wants to make sure it is the big-daddy by ensuring no one else gets to have nuclear kow-pow, while maintaining the biggest stockpile on the planet.
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India should be applauded for keeping the emissions per capita so low compared to USA, even while struggling under all the sanctions enforced on it by US for decades.