Hazy start to the 2008 Olympics by Kirsty McCabe
Heat and humidity marked the beginning of the 2008 Olympics on Friday, with temperatures in the city hitting 30C (86F). The air quality has been a longstanding issue for the Olympic organisers, with athletes voicing their concerns over the potential impacts on their health. The air pollution index for the opening ceremony was 94, which is a moderate level of pollution. Below 50 on the index indicates healthy air, while over 100 is considered to be harmful to certain people.
Prior to the opening ceremony, the host nation has been ‘cloud seeding’ in order to help increase the visibility in the city. This works by releasing chemicals into the atmosphere, typically silver iodide which acts as cloud condensation nuclei, changing the moisture level within the clouds and inducing rain fall. On Friday, meteorologists fired over one thousand ‘rain-dispersal rockets’ into clouds over Beijing in order to help prevent showers ruining the opening ceremony.
Beijing was under grey skies for the first day of the competition on Saturday, with temperatures expected to peak at a humid 33C (91F). The hot and humid weather is expected to continue through the first week of the competition, with the chance of some thundery showers.
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