Defining My Topic : Defining My Topic: Chen

Defining My Topic

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James Ryan Goebel: Defining a Research Topic

Defining a Research Topic

Research Topic: Air pollution and climate change in China

Geographic Region: China

Historical Scope: 1991 to present

Description: China has been severely troubled into air pollution and haze in recent decades and till now. Historically, the problem of Chinese air pollution and haze has developed several decades after Western high-income countries (such as England and U.S.) have significantly improved their air quality from the smog-laden days in the early and mid 20th century. For example, in 1970s, photochemical pollution occurring in areas with high vehicle traffic and sunlight in California, which is also called Los-Angeles-type smog. Since 1991, haze has been a particularly acute problem in Southeast Asia. Although air pollution has been a problem in China while it has only recently become an alarming concern after the year of 2008. Air pollution and haze in China mostly generate of the industrialization in cities. The emissions from fossil fuel combustion for heating and cooking, for electric power generation, and for mobiles running all contribute to the air pollution. Till now, the problem of China’s air pollution does not have any good turn. Many northern cities in China are suffering from PM 2.5, which is a particulate matter. Air pollution such as haze was recognized as a threat to health centuries ago. China could seek help from western countries’ history to cope with their problem of air pollution.

Keywords: Air pollution, haze, health effect, emissions, smog, fossil fuel combustion, PM 2.5

Why I came up with the idea of writing about air pollution problem in China, especially in Northern China? The reason was that I came from China and most of my families and friends were living there. Since it had been a serious problem there for decades, and became more severe in the recent years, I then decided to do a detailed research of its historical reasons, what government and related organizations did, and what methods people could use to solve the problem. I am glad that I received many replies from professor and classmates, which made me more confident to do it in my later Historical Conversations Project and Advocacy Project.

One of a very important message that I got from our professor was the region setting of my paper. It was right that I should focus on the haze in Northern China, not the whole region of China. I think this was really helpful in my later work of writing HCP Abstract, Annotated Bibliography, and the later draft of HCP. The following screenshots are the comments that I received from two of my classmates, who also gave me really good suggestions such as narrowing down the region and time period. Suggestions of checking other similar cases such as London-Smog and etc.

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[{:section_type=>"rich_text", :content=>"<p><a title=\"Author's Name\" class=\"author\" href=\"https://canvas.eee.uci.edu/courses/4289/users/800\">James Ryan Goebel</a>: Defining a Research Topic</p>\n<p><img alt=\"p-topic.png\" src=\"https://canvas.eee.uci.edu/files/1568492/download?download_frd=1&amp;verifier=lephHG90PEjG7VQkVHF21Sec8DegqE6ncRlYigcO\"></p>\n<div class=\"discussion-section message_wrapper hide-if-collapsed\">\n<div class=\"message user_content enhanced\" data-bind=\"message\">\n<p><span>Defining a Research Topic </span></p>\n<p><span>Research Topic: Air pollution and climate change in China</span></p>\n<p><span>Geographic Region: China</span></p>\n<p><span>Historical Scope: 1991 to present </span></p>\n<p><span>Description: China has been severely troubled into air pollution and haze in recent decades and till now. Historically, the problem of Chinese air pollution and haze has developed several decades after Western high-income countries (such as England and U.S.) have significantly improved their air quality from the smog-laden days in the early and mid 20th century. For example, in 1970s, photochemical pollution occurring in areas with high vehicle traffic and sunlight in California, which is also called Los-Angeles-type smog. Since 1991, haze has been a particularly acute problem in Southeast Asia. Although air pollution has been a problem in China while it has only recently become an alarming concern after the year of 2008. Air pollution and haze in China mostly generate of the industrialization in cities. The emissions from fossil fuel combustion for heating and cooking, for electric power generation, and for mobiles running all contribute to the air pollution. Till now, the problem of China’s air pollution does not have any good turn. Many northern cities in China are suffering from PM 2.5, which is a particulate matter. Air pollution such as haze was recognized as a threat to health centuries ago. China could seek help from western countries’ history to cope with their problem of air pollution. </span></p>\n<p><span>Keywords: Air pollution, haze, health effect, emissions, smog, fossil fuel combustion, PM 2.5</span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"entry-controls hide-if-collapsed hide-if-replying\">\n<div class=\"notification\" data-bind=\"notification\"></div>\n<div class=\"notification\" data-bind=\"notification\"><span style=\";\">Why I came up with the idea of writing about air pollution problem in China, especially in Northern China? The reason was that I came from China and most of my families and friends were living there. Since it had been a serious problem there for decades, and became more severe in the recent years, I then decided to do a detailed research of its historical reasons, what government and related organizations did, and what methods people could use to solve the problem. I am glad that I received many replies from professor and classmates, which made me more confident to do it in my later Historical Conversations Project and Advocacy Project. </span></div>\n<div class=\"notification\" data-bind=\"notification\"><span><img alt=\"c-3.png\" src=\"https://canvas.eee.uci.edu/files/1568497/download?download_frd=1&amp;verifier=uPjnkPB5rkUjwFX3cEVa6LlmyYTW0CrwvkoxfCIN\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"notification\" data-bind=\"notification\"><span> </span></div>\n<div class=\"notification\" data-bind=\"notification\"><span style=\";\">One of a very important message that I got from our professor was the region setting of my paper. It was right that I should focus on the haze in Northern China, not the whole region of China. I think this was really helpful in my later work of writing HCP Abstract, Annotated Bibliography, and the later draft of HCP. The following screenshots are the comments that I received from two of my classmates, who also gave me really good suggestions such as narrowing down the region and time period. Suggestions of checking other similar cases such as London-Smog and etc. </span></div>\n<div class=\"notification\" data-bind=\"notification\"><span><img alt=\"c-1.png\" src=\"https://canvas.eee.uci.edu/files/1568489/download?download_frd=1&amp;verifier=3buyT1bpvsM2VCbL0MhR7IYKmSiJwD5m6lVbLBgZ\"></span></div>\n<a class=\"discussion-reply-action entry-control\" role=\"button\" href=\"https://canvas.eee.uci.edu/courses/4289/discussion_topics/48522?module_item_id=117980#\" data-event=\"addReply\"><span class=\"icon-replied\"></span></a>\n</div>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"c-2.png\" src=\"https://canvas.eee.uci.edu/files/1568494/download?download_frd=1&amp;verifier=TNmLN90xzS0DImRWaQTAHinxjIVk0fH3ne0l6LYA\"></span></p>\n<p><span> </span></p>"}]

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