Challenges of Living in a Megacity
Living in a megacity isn't easy; it's rather very challenging. One of the challenges to deal with is the increasing level of pollution in these cities caused by traffic, industry, and natural minerals. A study reported that India's hub for the IT sector, Bangalore, is among the top polluted megacities in the world.
Study on Pollution in Megacities
189 megacities were tracked for pollution by scientists at Tel Aviv University. The study revealed that cities with populations exceeding 2 million were hotspots for high pollution. Out of these, 58 megacities, including Mumbai, Tokyo, and New York, also showed populations over 5 million. The study was compiled by collaborating eight years of data collected from three of NASA's high-tech aerosol monitoring satellites.
India, Northeast China, the Middle East, and Central African cities are foremost in showing an increase in pollution rates, including Bangalore, with a 34 percent average rise in aerosol concentration from 2002 to 2010, as reported by Tel Aviv University's American Friends (AFTAU) website.
Impact of Pollution on Health and Environment
The smog that often covers megacities is, in fact, a thick cloudy layer several hundred meters over the Earth's surface, which contains particles of pollutants. Those who live below these thick layers and breathe in the particulates can suffer severe health risks, and it is also an environmental hazard.
Regions with Decreased Pollution Levels
The countries that have shown a large decrease in aerosol concentration overall are Europe, and Northeast and Central North America. The cities with the freshest and cleanest environments are Houston, which showed a 31 percent decrease; Curitiba in Brazil with a 26 percent decrease; and Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, with a decrease of 23 percent in pollution.
Research Methodology and Findings
Prof. Pinhas Alpert led the research at Tel Aviv University's Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences to prepare this study. The method applied by the research team is the first of its kind in preparing standardized global testing of pollution levels. It was published in the American Journal of Climate Change.
There are some American cities with increased levels of pollution, including Portland with an average 53 percent rise and Seattle with an average increase of 32 percent. This increase has been correlated to the multiple wildfires that have occurred in these regions during the second half of the examined time period.
Future Implications and Research Directions
Apart from unveiling reliable data about pollution trends in the world, Prof. Alpert speculates that this method of monitoring can also identify the countries responsible for their emissions, encouraging them to incorporate more environmentally friendly practices. The research team is working on developing methods to separate pollution caused by natural events from those caused by humans for more accurate data.
Prof. Alpert noted that recording accurate measurements of pollution is not an easy job. The monitoring stations on the ground don't always provide the most precise picture. The location of the monitoring stations plays an important role in this, as some cities position their stations in urban centers, whereas others construct them on city borders, leading to discrepancies in collected records.
Another reason that makes it difficult to analyze pollution is the standardized approach to smog; also, the unreliable data received from the monitoring stations creates confusion. However, the aim of international treaties to reduce pollution could rely on the current method of measuring pollution. Prof. Alpert suggested that the cities which have successfully shown a decrease in pollution levels should be seen as examples to follow.
Source: SiliconIndia
Living in a megacity isn't easy; it's rather very challenging. One of the challenges to deal with is the increasing level of pollution in these cities caused by traffic, industry, and natural minerals. A study reported that India's hub for the IT sector, Bangalore, is among the top polluted megacities in the world.
Study on Pollution in Megacities
189 megacities were tracked for pollution by scientists at Tel Aviv University. The study revealed that cities with populations exceeding 2 million were hotspots for high pollution. Out of these, 58 megacities, including Mumbai, Tokyo, and New York, also showed populations over 5 million. The study was compiled by collaborating eight years of data collected from three of NASA's high-tech aerosol monitoring satellites.
India, Northeast China, the Middle East, and Central African cities are foremost in showing an increase in pollution rates, including Bangalore, with a 34 percent average rise in aerosol concentration from 2002 to 2010, as reported by Tel Aviv University's American Friends (AFTAU) website.
Impact of Pollution on Health and Environment
The smog that often covers megacities is, in fact, a thick cloudy layer several hundred meters over the Earth's surface, which contains particles of pollutants. Those who live below these thick layers and breathe in the particulates can suffer severe health risks, and it is also an environmental hazard.
Regions with Decreased Pollution Levels
The countries that have shown a large decrease in aerosol concentration overall are Europe, and Northeast and Central North America. The cities with the freshest and cleanest environments are Houston, which showed a 31 percent decrease; Curitiba in Brazil with a 26 percent decrease; and Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, with a decrease of 23 percent in pollution.
Research Methodology and Findings
Prof. Pinhas Alpert led the research at Tel Aviv University's Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences to prepare this study. The method applied by the research team is the first of its kind in preparing standardized global testing of pollution levels. It was published in the American Journal of Climate Change.
There are some American cities with increased levels of pollution, including Portland with an average 53 percent rise and Seattle with an average increase of 32 percent. This increase has been correlated to the multiple wildfires that have occurred in these regions during the second half of the examined time period.
Future Implications and Research Directions
Apart from unveiling reliable data about pollution trends in the world, Prof. Alpert speculates that this method of monitoring can also identify the countries responsible for their emissions, encouraging them to incorporate more environmentally friendly practices. The research team is working on developing methods to separate pollution caused by natural events from those caused by humans for more accurate data.
Prof. Alpert noted that recording accurate measurements of pollution is not an easy job. The monitoring stations on the ground don't always provide the most precise picture. The location of the monitoring stations plays an important role in this, as some cities position their stations in urban centers, whereas others construct them on city borders, leading to discrepancies in collected records.
Another reason that makes it difficult to analyze pollution is the standardized approach to smog; also, the unreliable data received from the monitoring stations creates confusion. However, the aim of international treaties to reduce pollution could rely on the current method of measuring pollution. Prof. Alpert suggested that the cities which have successfully shown a decrease in pollution levels should be seen as examples to follow.
Source: SiliconIndia