北京的空气质量

In Beijing, the air is a funny thing. Yes, it's mostly polluted, and yes, that will cause a problem for the Olympics, but it's the extent of variability that has me most intrigued. Contrary to what the New York Times reports, the current situation is not impossibly dire. Compare these two photographs, taken 21 hours apart, where the variable factor was a 30 minute rainstorm around 11am this morning. Honestly, if cloud seeding can produce a mini shower every morning during the Games, the government is all set. I'll keep taking photos from this vantage point periodically throughout my remaining time here to see how, and how rapidly, it changes over time.