Summer forecast bodes poorly for China
May 12, 2006 14:19:31 GMT -5
Post by Woodson on May 12, 2006 14:19:31 GMT -5
From CBC news
www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/05/12/china-weather.html
Meteorologists in China warn that the country faces extreme weather this summer, potentially adding misery to the lives of millions of people who are already coping with either droughts or floods.
State media have been told that China could be hit by nine typhoons, and generally the weather will be hotter and stormier than usual.
High summer temperatures will add further strain to China's electricity grid and drive up demand for fuel, meteorologists told the official Xinhua news agency.
The Beijing area is currently suffering its seventh successive year of drought, and experts say the outlook for substantial rain is gloomy.
Less than half an inch of rain has fallen on the Chinese capital in the past four months. That's down 63 per cent from the same period last year and reservoirs in the city are drying up.
Meanwhile, drought in the north, northeast and southwest of the country is affecting more than 16 million hectares of farmland and threatening water supplies to more than 14 million people.
While some areas are feeling the effects of drought, others face severe flooding.
Since mid-April, 10 people have been killed and around 4.5 million people have been affected by floods in central, eastern and southern China.
www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/05/12/china-weather.html
Meteorologists in China warn that the country faces extreme weather this summer, potentially adding misery to the lives of millions of people who are already coping with either droughts or floods.
State media have been told that China could be hit by nine typhoons, and generally the weather will be hotter and stormier than usual.
High summer temperatures will add further strain to China's electricity grid and drive up demand for fuel, meteorologists told the official Xinhua news agency.
The Beijing area is currently suffering its seventh successive year of drought, and experts say the outlook for substantial rain is gloomy.
Less than half an inch of rain has fallen on the Chinese capital in the past four months. That's down 63 per cent from the same period last year and reservoirs in the city are drying up.
Meanwhile, drought in the north, northeast and southwest of the country is affecting more than 16 million hectares of farmland and threatening water supplies to more than 14 million people.
While some areas are feeling the effects of drought, others face severe flooding.
Since mid-April, 10 people have been killed and around 4.5 million people have been affected by floods in central, eastern and southern China.