In 1999, the climate in China was abnormal again after the abnormal climate in 1998. The major aspects could be summarized as follows: there was small amount of rain precipitation in the north and large amount in the south; it was arid in winter and spring in most areas; in summer, there was flooding in the south and drought in the north; in fall, there were both drought and flooding; and the climate remained comparatively warm, with warm winter for the 13th year.

 

Distribution of Rainfall In 1999, the rainfall in China was extremely unbalanced, with little in the north and too much in the south. The annual rainfall in part of Jiangxi, Anhui, Zhejiang, Guangxi, Guangdong and Yunnan Provinces was over 2,000 mm, with 25% higher than that in the normal years. On the contrary, the rainfall in part of Hebei Plain and Shanxi and Liaonin Provinces was only 200~300 mm, with 50% less than that in the normal years. In summer, the rainfall in the north was the least since the foundation of the People's Republic of China and the drought in Jianghuai, Huanghuai and north China was rather serious. There was frequent rainfall in most parts of the Yangtze River Basin. After the great flooding in 1998, the year 1999 was a year with much rainfall again.

Temperature Distribution In 1999, the earth was still in the warm period. The average annual temperature in China was higher than that in the normal years. The average annual temperature was 1 0C higher, but the extent of the high temperature decreased than that in the previous year. The winter between 1998~1999 was the warmest one in the recent five decades and it was the 13th warm winter since 1986. The average seasonable temperature in most of the areas north to the Yellow River in summer was 1~20C higher. In the mid-north areas of north China it was 2~30C higher and there were continuous higher temperature periods. The average temperature in most of the areas south to the Yellow River was close to or lower than that in normal years. The number of high temperature days in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River decreased significantly, with obvious "cool summer" weather.

Weather Disasters In 1999, the disasters in the whole country were normal and slightly serious. The drought was the most serious one. As to the agriculture production, the thermal condition within the year was fairly good, with obvious stage variation. Some areas were influenced by high temperatures or low temperature frost. Most of the areas in the country were short of sunlight and water. The climate condition was normal and slightly bad.

Tropical Storms In 1999, there were 17 tropical storms in the north-west pacific and South China Sea (there are 28 tropical storms in the normal years) and only five of them landed in China. The landing sites were all located along the coastal areas of several hundred kilometres from Longhai, Fujian to Zhuhai, Guangdong.

Storms and Flood In the flood season in 1999, there were frequent heavy rain and storms in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and Tai Lake Basin. The rainfall in the Yangtze River Basin in the summer was just lower than that in 1954 an 1998, being the third one since 1949. There was extraordinarily heavy flood once in a hundred years in Tai Lake Basin. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the water level was the second highest one compared with that in 1998.

High Temperature in Summer In 1999, there were two periods with continuous fine weather and high temperature from 24 June to 2 July and from 23 July to 30 July in the north China. In the first high temperature period, the days with maximum daily temperature >350C normally lasted 6 to 7 days and the longest one lasted 9 days. It was exceptionally rare since 1949. In the second period of high temperature, the maximum daily temperature was 35~390C, and in some areas it was 40~420C. In Beijing, the maximum temperature hit 42.20C on 24 July, being the maximum temperature level in summer since 1949 in Beijing and the second highest one in the recent one hundred years.

Earthquake Disasters In 1999, there were 72 earthquakes over magnitude five (including magnitude five) in China, among which there were 48 ones in Taiwan Province., one in Taiwan Strait, one in the Yellow Sea and 22 in mainland areas. There were 15 earthquakes over magnitude six (including magnitude six), among which one was in mainland areas and the rest 14 ones were in Taiwan Province. The earthquake activities were quite active in Taiwan Province in the year and the overall earthquake level in mainland areas decreased compared with that in the previous year.

In 1999, there were 15 earthquakes that caused disasters in mainland areas of China. The number of people influenced by the earthquakes was 511,000, with three people dead and 23 ones seriously injured and 114 slightly injured. There were 27,764 m2 of houses destroyed, 141,151 m2 being seriously destroyed, 777,022 m2 being medium destroyed and 2,810,855 m2 slightly destroyed. The direct economic loss caused by earthquake disasters was 459 million yuan.

Geological Disasters In 1999, there were 320 cases of large-scaled sudden geological disasters in the whole country, with 823 people dead.

To Enhance the Prediction and Forecast of Disastrous Weather In order to prevent the influence of disastrous weather on industry, agriculture and national economy, the meteorological departments at various levels enhanced the prediction and forecast of the disastrous weather and made accurate forecast during the extraordinary serious flood in Tai Lake Basin, thus ensuring that the governments at various level were able to make preparation in time and minimize the loss of the disasters.

 

(to be continued)