2015年CRI Smog Prompts More Chinese Northern Regions to Issue ＂Red Alert＂

 

Zhang Hengde is a forecaster with the National Meteorological Center.

"The highest level can be expected on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Heavy smog will be seen in central and south Beijing, central and west Tianjin, central and north Hebei, north Shandong and Henan. It will cause severe pollution."

To tackle the pollution, Hebei, which is home to six of the ten most polluted Chinese cities, as of November, issued its first red alert for smog on Tuesday noon.

All 11 cities in Hebei are expected to roll out strict measures including limitations on the number of vehicles on the roads. 

Kindergarten, middle school, and primary school classes will be canceled.

The port city of Tianjin also issued its red alert, which will runs through Thursday.

Meanwhile a similar warning for severe air pollution expired in Beijing as of Tuesday night.

Zhang Hengde with the National Meteorological Center, says the capital city is to see the smog density¹ reduced, though in a slow pace on Wednesday.

"Starting from Wednesday, a weak cold front from the north will affect North China's central and south regions, all the way down to the Huang-huai area. But it's not strong enough. So the smog will be reduced at a very slow pace. In Beijing, it will be weakened from Wednesday and dispelled² a day after. And in Hebei it could be even slower and longer, if it's dispelled at all."

Beijing was hit with severe air pollution on Tuesday, with pollution levels reaching the highest grade on its pollution gauging³ system in the southern part of the city.

The Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center said the density of PM2.5 exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter in these areas.

Meanwhile, other parts of north China also witnessed some of the worst smog so far this year from Saturday.

Orange, yellow and blue alerts have been issued in cities in the provinces of Henan, Shandong and Liaoning.

The high-speed rail linking Shenyang, capital city of Liaoning, and the coastal⁴ city of Dalian cut its speed to 200 kilometers per hour from the usual 300 kilometers per hour, due to limited visibility.

In addition, 15 highways in Liaoning Province were either completely or partially⁵ closed.

1 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

2 dispelled   

v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His speech dispelled any fears about his health. 他的发言消除了人们对他身体健康的担心。
• The sun soon dispelled the thick fog. 太阳很快驱散了浓雾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 gauging   

n.测量[试]，测定，计量v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的现在分词 )；估计；计量；划分

参考例句：

• The method is especially attractive for gauging natural streams. 该方法对于测量天然的流注具有特殊的吸引力。 来自辞典例句
• Incommunicative as he was, some time elapsed before I had an opportunity of gauging his mind. 由于他不爱说话，我过了一些时候才有机会探测他的心灵。 来自辞典例句

4 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

5 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。