Athletes Praying for Rain in China

I know it seems odd that I am suggesting that rain would be good for the Olympics. After all, who wants to throw a javelin in the pouring rain or try to break a world record in the 100 meter dash in a tropical shower? But the air in Beijing is starting out as tropical as it is in the Amazon. That will make it tough to perfom at a high level for even the world's most seasoned summer athletes.

Of course, there is not a single athlete or fan at the Chinese Birds Nest Stadium who wants it to be wet for the opening ceremonies of the 29th Olympiad. But I am here to tell you that well placed rains for these games might be just what the weather doctor ordered. Here’s why.

BEIJING CLIMATE: The Asian Monsoon and Air Pollution

Sitting near 40 degrees of north latitude, Beijing is situated in the eastern hemisphere about as far north as big American cities like Washington DC, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia PA. in the western hemisphere. So a first guess is that Beijing should experience temperatures similiar to those three Northeast USA cities. Highs leading up the Olympics have been routinely in the 90s!

Since Beijing is about as far away from the Yellow Sea (an extension of the Pacific Ocean) as Philly is to the Atlantic and DC is to the Chesapeake Bay, I can assure you the climate in Beijing in summer mirrors those two cities.

Dr. Shuhua Fan of Marshall's history department lived in Beijing much of her adult life. "The summer weather in Beijing is alot like Washington DC. Very hot and humid. The Chinese people rely on air conditioned buildings, buses and cars to stay cool", Dr Fan told me.

Now Philly and DC are also prone to moist maritime flows from off the ocean/bay. During these periods, the air is very sticky and it frequently rains. Highs when the wind blows from the ocean rarely get to 90, but 80s feel muggy given the high octane humidity.

In Beijing, the flow in July and August alternates between blowing from the Southwest (the hottest direction since this is a land breeze) to the Southeast (off the Yellow and East China Seas hence this is the wet direction).

This maritime Southeast wind direction draws humid tropical air into eastern China and results in frequent rains. In fact, these sea winds are known as monsoons for their predictability and seasonality. I know consideration was given to holding the games in September (as was done with the 1988 Seoul Olympics) to avoid this wet season monsoon. And blow the monsoon will for the first week of the games with occasional showers and downpours in thunderstorms.

Recent highs have been in the low to mid 90s with oppressive humidity levels (Dew points in the upper 70s are rarely seen here in Appalachia but are an unwelcomed visitor to Beijing in summer. They are also totally draining for a human being!).

I see a first week of the games having 2 jungle-like days with highs in the 90s and those steambath-like humidity levels. I could not fathom how a human being could possibly run a marathon under those conditions.

The monsoon will keep officials and meteorologists busy as several track and field and pool events are likely to be delayed due to the intensity of the monsoonal thunderstorms.

AIR POLLUTION

As I spotlighted on First at 5 on Friday, China in general and Beijing in particular are undergoing rapid modernization. Cars and buses by the thousands help the people in metro Beijing, some 17 million strong, get around. This matting throng of humanity needs food to eat, energy to burn and money to spend in order to compete in a growing capitalistic economic society.

While the last vestiges of communism are still slowly being beaten down, socialism too is on its way out. Mickey Ds and Starbucks are among the popular stops for a Chinese population on the move. The Chinese economy and stock market are going gang busters.

Of course, the modernization of China has come at an environmental price. Much like the Industrial Revolution in America left cities like Pittsburgh, LA and Atlanta thriving but polluted, the air in Beijing is as dirty as LA was at its worst in the 1960s. Coal is king here in China since it produces the needed energy for electricity and heating-cooling of homes/industries.

It also produces air pollution. As coal is burned in factories and power plants, the residue is spewed into the air in the form or Sulfuric and Nitric Oxides. Add in the inevitable pollution from the burning of gasolines from cars and you have the makings of an air pollution problem.

In addition, the Gobi Desert lurks to the north and is a source of dust particles especially in spring and fall when winds back to the northwest and transport those fine particles into Beijing. That dust masks itself in the guise of a thick haze that makes most days seem dull and faintly cloudy, while producing fiery sunrises and sunsets close to the horizons.

As in America and Appalachia, the long hot Asian summers can often run into periods of poor air dispersion due to a lack of wind and rain. When these conditions occur, the dust and pollution team with morning mists and fogs to form a photochemical concoction known as smog.

The smog will be a constant companion in Beijing this fortnight of competition but will ease a bit when cooling and cleansing showers pass thru the Olympic Village.

Confucious says you can see the Olympics in beautiful High Definition right here on WSAZ.

Let the games begin!