Jiangsu province's Nanjing will become the first city in China to use a satellite remote sensing system to monitor and control air pollution, cnr.cn observed on Monday.

The current air pollution monitoring system in Nanjing is ground-based and can only record the air quality for the city, while the satellite remote sensing system can far exceed that geographic limit.

By applying the technology, the local environmental department can monitor and control air pollution from miles away in a timely manner.

Measures can also be taken to tackle "imported" air pollution caused by dust storms or straw-burning.

By judging the light reflected by smog, the satellite can determine the smog's thickness and range.

The system is scheduled to go into use before the opening of the Summer Youth Olympic Games to be held in Nanjing this August.

Besides providing air pollution data for the event in Nanjing, the satellite can also offer technological support for air pollution prevention and control in the Yangtze River Delta region.