In December, much of central and eastern China once again faced persistent smog. On the 5th, the Central Meteorological Observatory issued a bright yellow warning at 18:00, forecasting that air quality would deteriorate significantly from the 20th to the 20th of the 6th. Pollutants were expected to accumulate in regions such as northern Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, northern Zhejiang, northeastern Henan, southern Shandong, eastern Hubei, and northeastern Hunan. The meteorological conditions for pollution were rated between 4 and 5, with some areas reaching level 6, making it difficult for pollutants to disperse. Most of these regions experienced moderate pollution, while parts of Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang, and eastern Anhui faced severe conditions.
According to the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau, PM2.5 levels in Shanghai began rising after 18:00 on November 30. By 1 p.m. on December 1, the concentration had exceeded 150 μg/m³, and by 3 a.m. on the 2nd, it reached 299.6 μg/m³—the highest point during the period. Although pollution eased slightly after 10 a.m. on the 2nd, concentrations rose again starting from the night of the 4th. On December 1 and 2, Shanghai experienced heavy pollution, followed by moderate levels on the 3rd and 4th. Severe pollution returned on the 5th, with PM2.5 exceeding 468 μg/m³ at midnight on the 6th.
To combat the worsening air quality, the Shanghai municipal government issued a severe pollution warning at 19:00 on the 1st. Emergency measures included green power dispatching, restrictions on industrial emissions, suspension of construction sites, and bans on dust-generating activities. Open burning of straw was also prohibited. As pollution levels decreased, the heavy pollution warning was lifted on the evening of the 3rd. However, with pollution resuming, the city reactivated emergency measures at 18:00 on the 5th. Air quality remained poor, and relief was slow to arrive.
Looking ahead, this weather pattern is expected to change this week. A stronger cold front than previous ones will begin affecting China from the 8th, leading to lower temperatures across central and eastern regions. This should help reduce the prolonged haze that has plagued the area.
Meanwhile, Shanghai has taken a new step in environmental monitoring. The city’s mobile tethered balloon, previously used for Expo security, was launched in Fengxian on the 6th. Equipped with advanced air quality monitoring equipment and data transmission systems, the balloon will float nearly 1,000 meters above the city, collecting real-time data on air quality at different altitudes. This initiative provides a more comprehensive dataset for experts studying urban haze.
This is the first time China has used a tethered balloon to create a "combined air pollution stereo observation" platform. The balloon, measuring 31 meters in length and 1,600 cubic meters in volume—comparable to a Boeing 737—can rise up to 1,000 meters. It carries four high-definition cameras, an infrared camera, and a hyperspectral camera, capturing detailed information on temperature, spectral characteristics, and meteorological parameters.
Previously, Shanghai relied on ground-based monitoring. Now, with the tethered balloon in operation, it will serve as a high-altitude platform for “stereoscopic observation of air pollution.†Environmental experts will monitor air quality at various altitudes within 1,000 meters, studying the physical and chemical properties of fine particles and their vertical distribution. This will provide richer data to support efforts in managing urban haze.
Eventually, a full vertical observation platform tailored for atmospheric environmental monitoring—including factors like PM2.5—will be established, better supporting Shanghai's urban development and environmental protection goals.
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