|
BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhuanet) -- China is being hit by some unusual weather patterns, with some regions being hit by both heavy flooding and drought at the same time. Scientists say that's because the global weather event, El Nino, has returned.
No sign of abating. Large parts of China are seeing continuous rainfall.
Over 22 million people have been hit by flooding in southern areas. Economic losses are estimated at 24 billion yuan and counting.
"We've had record rainfall across China for the month of June. The rainfall in the last 18 days in northern and northeastern areas, along the Yangtze River, and in southern areas like Gui-zhou, is much more than in previous years," said Li Weijing, general engineer of National Climate Center.
And yet, in other southern provinces like Hai-nan and Yun-nan there is a moderate drought.
Experts say the unusual and varied weather patterns are being caused by the El Nino phenomenon. El Nino is a regular global weather event caused by warming sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. The last El-Nino in 1997 and 1998 caused the worst flooding along the Yangtze River in half a century, killing thousands of people.
Meteorologists around the world agree that El Nino is back, and is likely to bring some very unsettled weather this summer, and into the autumn.
Chinese authorities are aware, and have been calling for more preventative and relief measures, as well as issuing advice to farmers.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
