Skip to main content

Smog in Shanghai, China

East Asia

Some of the largest changes in OMI NO2 levels between 2005 and 2014 occurred over China, Japan, and Korea.  Large increases occurred over the North China Plain of China, which is consistent with the country's booming economy over the last decade.  China's phenomenal economic growth has been fueled by the country's abundant coal reserves, but at the cost of air quality. However, the OMI data indicate that levels decreased over several of China's cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, and the cities of the Pearl River Delta, including Hong Kong.  These cities have implemented ambitious environmental regulations to improve air quality.  National environmental regulations in Japan and South Korea have also lead to large decreases over their cities, as much as 40% over Tokyo, for instance.  Increases southwest of Seoul (Korea) are likely associated with intensive industrial infrastructure development, including petrochemical complexes.  Given that increases occurred over the ocean, it is possible that Chinese pollution impacted air quality in North Korea, South Korea and western Japan.

East Asia Regional Changes in NO2, 2005-2016

East Asia Regional Changes in NO2, 2005-2016
Image Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

The trend map of East Asia shows the change in NO2 levels from 2005 to 2016.

NO2 color bar

 

City Country Region 2021 Average NO2 Change (%) Uncertainty (±%)
Aichi

Japan

East Asia 5.361e+15 -47.9186 5.38
Anegasaki

Japan

East Asia 8.482e+15 -48.1173 5.26
Anhui Bengbu power station

China

East Asia 7.385e+15 -38.9727 12.97
Beijing

China

East Asia 1.104e+16 -45.1700 7.87
Beijing Northwest

China

East Asia 9.866e+15 -49.9158 8.08
Black Point Power Station

China

East Asia 9.821e+15 -54.2175 8.39
Boryeong

South Korea

East Asia 3.878e+15 -11.1446 11.21
Busan

South Korea

East Asia 5.830e+15 -26.8151 7.29
Castle Peak power station

China

East Asia 9.821e+15 -54.2175 8.39
Chaozhou Sanbaimen power station

China

East Asia 3.741e+15 -7.50611 12.63
Chengdu

China

East Asia 8.002e+15 19.6081 13.11
Chiba

Japan

East Asia 8.859e+15 -45.4124 5.13
Chita

Japan

East Asia 6.096e+15 -49.8906 5.55
Chongqing

China

East Asia 6.084e+15 -1.82372 12.30
CKI Lamma power station

China

East Asia 6.604e+15 -50.7804 12.04
CPI Changshu 1 power station

China

East Asia 1.566e+16 -30.8894 8.96
CPI Pingwei power station

China

East Asia 6.979e+15 -41.8399 13.46
Daba power station

China

East Asia 3.453e+15 2.45760 18.18
Daegu

South Korea

East Asia 5.610e+15 -23.2944 7.49
Daesan

South Korea

East Asia 5.398e+15 -3.38298 12.49
Dah Tarn

Taiwan

East Asia 3.366e+15 -29.5974 5.39
Daihai power station

China

East Asia 3.779e+15 -35.7120 19.27
Dalate power station

China

East Asia 4.755e+15 -25.0004 15.71
Dalian

China

East Asia 7.710e+15 -25.5345 13.08
Dangjin

South Korea

East Asia 6.374e+15 -14.2175 12.46
Datang Ningde power station

China

East Asia 4.011e+15 36.1012 18.20
Datang Sanmenxia power station

China

East Asia 5.474e+15 -43.6183 12.74
Datang Tuoketuo power station

China

East Asia 4.886e+15 -31.7294 17.49
Datang Wushashan power station

China

East Asia 6.491e+15 -48.5394 13.92
Datong power station

China

East Asia 5.989e+15 -49.8075 12.87
Datong Tashan Coal

China

East Asia 6.105e+15 -37.5823 13.84
Diandong power station

China

East Asia 1.882e+15 -44.5050 26.01
Dingzhou power station

China

East Asia 1.017e+16 -31.4039 12.11
Dongguan

China

East Asia 1.067e+16 -53.9951 7.55
East Hope Metals Wucaiwan power station

China

East Asia 3.414e+15 242.195 36.09
Fangchenggang Coal

China

East Asia 2.620e+15 39.4100 14.93
Fujian Hongshan power station

China

East Asia 4.685e+15 -5.27211 13.52
Fukuoka

Japan

East Asia 2.838e+15 -40.9573 7.72
Futtsu

Japan

East Asia 6.429e+15 -52.7024 5.87
Fuzhou

China

East Asia 4.339e+15 -13.8571 11.06
Fuzhou Kemen power station

China

East Asia 4.500e+15 17.0509 15.80
Guangan power station

China

East Asia 5.039e+15 -13.4361 11.32
Guangdong Huilai power station

China

East Asia 3.305e+15 -12.0717 12.94
Guangdong Shajiao power complex

China

East Asia 1.126e+16 -56.4849 7.59
Guangzhou

China

East Asia 1.200e+16 -49.1349 8.09
Guizhou Faer power station

China

East Asia 2.368e+15 -63.4261 18.34
Guodian Baoji 2 power station

China

East Asia 3.191e+15 -36.7913 11.72
Guodian Beilun power station

China

East Asia 9.124e+15 -46.0197 11.22
Guodian Shizuishan 2 power station

China

East Asia 5.485e+15 -26.6479 13.62
Guodian Taizhou power station

China

East Asia 1.343e+16 -32.8829 10.64
Guohua Taishan power station

China

East Asia 4.851e+15 -58.0555 15.26
Hadong

South Korea

East Asia 4.510e+15 -23.5425 7.70
Hancheng power station

China

East Asia 7.530e+15 -22.4266 10.33
Hanchuan power station

China

East Asia 8.069e+15 -8.54305 13.96
Hangzhou

China

East Asia 1.165e+16 -37.7205 10.64
Harbin

China

East Asia 4.108e+15 -28.2159 15.84
Hekinan power station

Japan

East Asia 5.602e+15 -49.6318 5.26
Henan Xinmi power station

China

East Asia 9.931e+15 -42.4436 12.13
Hezhou power station

China

East Asia 2.456e+15 11.9235 12.74
Higashi Niigata

Japan

East Asia 2.043e+15 -20.9936 7.15
Hirono

Japan

East Asia 3.355e+15 -20.2211 5.63
Hong Kong

China

East Asia 7.051e+15 -49.3903 9.54
Houshi power station

China

East Asia 4.773e+15 -21.1988 12.72
Hsinta

Taiwan

East Asia 2.666e+15 -42.2785 7.31
Hsinta

Taiwan

East Asia 2.666e+15 -42.2785 7.31
Huadian Laizhou power station

China

East Asia 8.764e+15 -17.4261 14.72
Huadian Ningxia Lingwu power station

China

East Asia 4.267e+15 5.09274 20.39
Huadian Shiliquan power station

China

East Asia 9.935e+15 -39.0744 11.42
Huadian Xisaishan power station

China

East Asia 7.379e+15 -15.1589 14.11
Huainan Fengtai power station

China

East Asia 6.533e+15 -34.3919 15.27
Huainan Luohe power station

China

East Asia 7.225e+15 -39.9410 13.80
Huainan Tianji power station

China

East Asia 6.825e+15 -40.0279 13.93
Huaneng Dezhou power station

China

East Asia 9.741e+15 -38.5591 10.83
Huaneng Fuzhou power station

China

East Asia 4.984e+15 -12.4214 11.55
Huaneng Haimen power station

China

East Asia 3.407e+15 -18.8342 13.19
Huaneng Jinling power station

China

East Asia 1.200e+16 -41.9159 9.81
Huaneng Laiwu power station

China

East Asia 1.034e+16 -29.5706 10.55
Huaneng Luohuang power station

China

East Asia 7.043e+15 -21.9070 11.31
Huaneng Pingliang power station

China

East Asia 2.778e+15 7.07807 16.64
Huaneng Qinbei power station

China

East Asia 8.147e+15 -61.8780 10.73
Huaneng Shangan power station

China

East Asia 1.187e+16 -38.1389 9.88
Huaneng Shangdu power station

China

East Asia 1.551e+15 -34.1131 25.80
Huaneng Yangluo power station

China

East Asia 1.061e+16 -16.6879 12.16
Huaneng Yimin power station

China

East Asia 8.358e+14 -9.73081 11.59
Huaneng Yueyang power station

China

East Asia 4.776e+15 -25.6309 18.00
Huaneng Yuhuan power station

China

East Asia 5.285e+15 -42.9698 13.40
Huanghua Cangzhou power station

China

East Asia 1.148e+16 -11.1600 9.98
Huolinhe Zhanute power station

China

East Asia 1.449e+15 55.6079 19.07
Incheon

South Korea

East Asia 8.655e+15 -25.7578 12.73
J Power Tachibana wan power station

Japan

East Asia 2.698e+15 -34.2520 5.23
Jianbi power station

China

East Asia 1.263e+16 -38.4355 10.10
Jiangsu Nantong power station

China

East Asia 1.532e+16 -32.0031 10.31
Jiaxing power station

China

East Asia 1.123e+16 -28.9530 9.40
Kainan

Japan

East Asia 3.855e+15 -39.4005 5.69
Kashima

Japan

East Asia 5.104e+15 -43.7321 5.44
Kawagoe

Japan

East Asia 5.972e+15 -47.6214 5.65
Lanxi power station

China

East Asia 6.896e+15 -26.6171 14.56
Ligang power station

China

East Asia 1.511e+16 -32.6664 10.18
Lusigang power station

China

East Asia 8.798e+15 -20.6371 17.83
Mailao

Taiwan

East Asia 2.948e+15 -33.8430 7.05
Meizhou Wan power station

China

East Asia 4.540e+15 -10.1936 11.84
Nagasaki

Japan

East Asia 1.865e+15 -16.5942 9.36
Nagoya

Japan

East Asia 5.781e+15 -49.4029 5.96
Nanjing

China

East Asia 1.150e+16 -38.2672 10.85
Ninghai power station

China

East Asia 6.345e+15 -44.9635 13.98
Osaka

Japan

East Asia 7.044e+15 -47.4775 5.83
Panshan power station

China

East Asia 1.034e+16 -24.6978 12.39
Panxian 2 power station

China

East Asia 1.992e+15 -72.5866 29.17
Pingdingshan Luyang power station

China

East Asia 5.931e+15 -44.1878 14.94
Pucheng power station

China

East Asia 6.854e+15 -24.1917 11.87
Puqi Xianning power station

China

East Asia 4.920e+15 -13.2726 16.03
Pyongyang

North Korea

East Asia 3.225e+15 14.9493 11.21
Qingdao

China

East Asia 1.113e+16 -26.4883 9.20
Quanzhou

China

East Asia 4.942e+15 -9.50378 13.32
Rizhao power station

China

East Asia 1.093e+16 2.60273 12.88
Samcheok Green power station

South Korea

East Asia 3.863e+15 -15.8953 9.58
Samcheonpo

South Korea

East Asia 4.834e+15 -27.6021 6.76
SDIC Qinzhou power station

China

East Asia 2.681e+15 33.7365 14.10
Seoul

South Korea

East Asia 1.136e+16 -34.4492 8.72
Shanghai

China

East Asia 1.303e+16 -45.6957 7.18
Shanwei Honghaiwan power station

China

East Asia 3.486e+15 13.8363 12.04
Shenhua Anqing power station

China

East Asia 6.105e+15 -25.9675 16.30
Shenhua Guohua Jinjie power station

China

East Asia 4.703e+15 77.6979 24.90
Shenhua Guoneng Hami power station

China

East Asia 1.319e+15 83.9461 10.58
Shenhua Hequ power station

China

East Asia 6.472e+15 19.2570 17.48
Shenhua Jiujiang power station

China

East Asia 6.272e+15 -14.5036 17.49
Shenyang

China

East Asia 1.040e+16 -12.2799 14.15
Shenzhen

China

East Asia 9.612e+15 -53.2034 7.20
Shidongkou power station

China

East Asia 1.414e+16 -44.5264 7.31
Shin Nagoya

Japan

East Asia 6.099e+15 -50.7905 5.74
Shin Oita

Japan

East Asia 3.171e+15 -32.2310 6.32
Shuangliao West power station

China

East Asia 3.252e+15 -4.92170 16.71
Shuangyashan power station

China

East Asia 2.219e+15 -34.6328 18.22
Sodegaura

Japan

East Asia 8.482e+15 -48.1173 5.26
Suizhong power station

China

East Asia 7.962e+15 -33.5261 10.86
Suzhou

China

East Asia 1.416e+16 -27.9390 9.43
Taean

South Korea

East Asia 4.963e+15 0.177500 13.61
Taipei

Taiwan

East Asia 3.532e+15 -37.5971 6.35
Taizhong Taichung

Taiwan

East Asia 3.399e+15 -43.1678 5.70
Tianjin

China

East Asia 1.418e+16 -28.8339 9.60
Tianjin Beijiang power station

China

East Asia 1.503e+16 -15.3440 11.31
Tieling power station

China

East Asia 7.564e+15 -21.8023 17.16
Tokyo

Japan

East Asia 9.942e+15 -54.1371 5.54
Tongling Wanneng power station

China

East Asia 7.185e+15 -24.8291 14.80
Tongmei Tashan power station

China

East Asia 5.907e+15 -47.9381 13.25
Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia

East Asia 1.389e+15 23.5846 8.11
Ulsan

South Korea

East Asia 5.943e+15 -25.8287 7.06
Waigaoqiao power station

China

East Asia 1.309e+16 -44.5360 7.41
Weiqiao Huji power station

China

East Asia 1.151e+16 -16.8072 12.31
Weiqiao Zouping 1 power station

China

East Asia 1.359e+16 -35.4111 12.03
Weiqiao Zouping 6 power station

China

East Asia 1.359e+16 -35.4111 12.03
Weiqiao Zouping 7 power station

China

East Asia 1.385e+16 -36.2203 11.58
WEnergy Maanshan Power Station

China

East Asia 1.045e+16 -20.6032 12.54
Wuhan

China

East Asia 1.071e+16 -9.70456 12.79
Wujiaqu power station

China

East Asia 4.353e+15 11.3750 24.13
Xian

China

East Asia 9.055e+15 -18.4975 11.85
Xiangfan power station

China

East Asia 4.841e+15 -20.3367 12.92
Xibaipo power station

China

East Asia 1.174e+16 -37.7554 9.98
Xinhai power station

China

East Asia 9.610e+15 -9.98331 13.16
Xinjiang Qiya Smelter power station

China

East Asia 3.198e+15 266.002 33.05
Xinyuan Aluminum power station

China

East Asia 1.035e+16 -39.7696 12.08
Xishan Gujiao power station

China

East Asia 6.944e+15 -24.7285 12.26
XPCC Shihezi Cogen power station

China

East Asia 3.674e+15 -17.0462 19.10
Xuchang Yulong power station

China

East Asia 8.365e+15 -44.8204 11.86
Xuzhou Pengcheng power station

China

East Asia 9.789e+15 -34.3403 11.69
Yangcheng power station

China

East Asia 6.622e+15 -57.7156 10.53
Yangxi Zhujiang power station

China

East Asia 2.649e+15 -7.67855 14.46
Yangzhou 2 power station

China

East Asia 1.227e+16 -40.6147 9.67
Yaomeng power station

China

East Asia 6.075e+15 -45.5990 14.03
Yeongheung

South Korea

East Asia 6.256e+15 -15.0810 13.64
Yokohama

Japan

East Asia 8.929e+15 -54.4375 5.42
Yokosuka

Japan

East Asia 5.601e+15 -51.9582 6.43
Zhangjiagang Shazhou power station

China

East Asia 1.574e+16 -32.4902 10.30
Zhangjiakou power station

China

East Asia 4.613e+15 -44.6239 12.15
Zheneng Wenzhou power station

China

East Asia 5.133e+15 -46.7554 13.37
Zheneng Yueqing power station

China

East Asia 5.179e+15 -41.6798 13.22
Zhengzhou

China

East Asia 1.016e+16 -48.3572 11.60
Zouxian power station

China

East Asia 1.051e+16 -40.6470 10.62