Climate change has triggered more floods in China and challenged drainage systems in big cities, experts say.
“Although the rain is still more frequent in the south than in the north, there is a tendency that rainstorms sweeping northern provinces are as strong as those in the south,” Wu Zhenghua, a researcher of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau and member of Beijing Disaster Relief Association, said at a news conference on coping with urban flood disasters held by the China Association for Science and Technology.
The record precipitation was 126.4 mm in one hour in Beijing, while it was not very different from the 115 mm record in Hong Kong, 107 mm in Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei province, and 185 mm in Jinan, East China’s Shandong province, Wu said.
The July 21 rainstorm in Beijing, the heaviest in 61 years, caused precipitation as high as 541 mm in a township in Fangshan district, Wu said.
The 16-hour rain brought 170 mm of precipitation on average to the city and killed at least 79 people.
Statistics show that the rainfall intensity in northern provinces in China has increased in recent years, especially after 2008, Wu said.
“Global warming has increased the temperature in the middle and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in more water-vapor exchange and heat exchange with low-latitude regions, and thus bringing more frequent heavy precipitation,” he said.
Wu said he is not sure whether the rainy climate will last for one or two decades, as some other experts say, but he suggests the government make long-term plans, including increasing the urban drainage capacity.
Heavy rains AND drought? Probably across the street from each other…
The AGW believers like to wait until drought or flooding occurs, then claim it’s because of Global Warming. When they can tell me exactly where and when the heavy rains and droughts are going to occur, I might start giving them a little credence.
I saw that someone said that the cool, damp weather in Britain this year was due to Global Warming and Brits may need to adjust to this for years to come. Wasn’t it about four or five years ago that it was hot and dry in Britain and the “experts” blamed AGW, and said Brits may have to adjust to it for years to come?
The problem with using anecdotal evidence is that it relies on everyone developing amnesia.
Cool, damp weather in Britain has been the norm for my 63 years.
Gamecock,
That’s kind of what we’ve heard in the States too.
Just so you didn’t think I made up the story about the cold and damp in Britain being caused by Global Warming. It’s the Guardian, so it must be true.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/aug/08/shape-of-british-summers-to-come?newsfeed=true
Sir, I am a proud citizen of South Carolina. Which, due to difficulties in the 1860s, is part of the States.
Known as the Late Unpleasantness
Sorry for making an assumption. My apologies.
Thx. No offense taken, though I am disappointed that you didn’t know that Gamecock meant that I was from SC.