NO2 concentrations over Beijing 2007 and 2008

This animation shows the mean tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations as observed by the GOME-2 instrument on MetOp over Beijing between 8 August and 17 September for 2007 and 2008. As visible, the high NO2 concentration over Beijing was strongly reduced in 2008 as compared to 2007 as a result of the intensive air quality measures taken during the Olympic Games. NO2 concentrations in nearby cities Tianjin (110 km from Beijing) and Shijiazhuang (250 km away) persisted.

The MetOp satellite was developed by ESA in cooperation with EUMETSAT.