Sandstorm Brings out Beijing's True Grit

Home>>Life

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 18, 2002

Sandstorm Brings out Beijing's True Grit

Sandy winds swept Beijing this weekend for the first time this year, forcing residents who hoped to enjoy warm spring weather to cut their plans short. Dry soil, especially the desertification of grazing lands in nearby provinces, might bring more sandstorms this year, meteorologist warned.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Sandstorm Hits Beijing

Sandy winds swept Beijing this weekend for the first time this year, forcing residents who hoped to enjoy warm spring weather to cut their plans short.

Winds with forces of 5 to 6 on the Beaufort scale were wrapped in dust and dominated the sky in China's capital from late Friday until Sunday. Meteorologists said it would end today.

More severe sandstorms predicted

However, cold currents that will hit North China this week might bring more severe sandstorms, they warned.

Reports from the Beijing Meteorological Station said the recent sandstorms were brought by a cold front from Mongolia. It blew fine sand from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shanxi and Hebei provinces all the way to Beijing.

Sand and dust used on Beijing construction sites also contributed to the dusty weather, the report said.

Li Sheng, a meteorologist with the station, said high temperatures and less rainfall in North China this winter led to dry topsoil and the sandy weather.

The recent weather is not as serious compared with other sandstorms in the past. The visibility downtown remained at about 1,000 metres, he said.

But he warned that dry soil, and especially the desertification of grazing lands in nearby provinces, might bring more sandstorms this year.

Sandstorms to be on increase in spite of government efforts

Thirty-two sandstorms swept the countryl last year, he said. Research conducted by the China-Japan Environment Protection Centre showed that some 800,000 hectares of grassland and forest were destroyed between 1995 and 2000 in northern Hebei and the Inner Mongolia, which greatly increased the intensity of sandstorms.

Though the central government had adopted effective measures to plant trees and grass there, it needed more time to take effect.

According to research, sandstorms won't be seeing sharp decreases in the next few years.

To better monitor sandstorms, the central government has established supervision stations in Shanxi, Gansu and Hebei provinces and Inner Mongolia.

These stations monitor sandstorms around the clock, and warn people when one is coming. The entire monitoring and warning programme is expected go into operation later this month.

Nature Continues to Kick up a Storm: Analysis

In recent years, it seems that sand storms are affecting Chinese people's lives more frequently and extensively. As this spring draws near, more sand storms are expected. Among the many Chinese scholars probing the reasons and controlling measures of the sand storms, Wang Shejiao, of the Northwest Historical Environment and Economic Social Development Research Centre under the Shaanxi Normal University, has put forward a rather unique view. (In Detail)

Questions?Comments? Click here

Sandstorm Warning System to Help Prevent Damages

Beijing to Bid Farewell to Sandstorms in Ten Years

Sandstorms Tramples on Northern China