2010 China drought and dust storms

Natural disasters in China thumb|right|A sandstorm hits Longjing Township, Taichung County, in Taiwan on March 21, 2010. The 2010 China drought and dust storms were a series of severe droughts during the spring of 2010 that affected Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan, Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Hebei and Gansu in the People's Republic of China as well as parts of Southeast Asia including Vietnam and Thailand, and dust storms in March and April that affected much of East Asia. The drought has been referred to as the worst in a century in southwestern China.Asianews.it. "Asianews.it." Worst drought in a century wipes out harvests in southwestern China. Retrieved on 2010-03-22. Causes Prior to the drought in Yunnan and Guizhou, the China Meteorological Administration recorded temperatures averaging 2 °C warmer than normal over six months and half the average precipitation for the past year across the region, both unprecedented since at least the 1950s.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/mar/25/china-drought-emergency-food China sends emergency food to drought-stricken provinces Watts Jonathan March 25, 2010 Guardian News and Media Limited guardian.co.uk 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100328031753/http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/25/china-drought-emergency-food March 28, 2010 live The effects of El Niño are believed to be contributing to the drought, which may be exacerbated by global warming,https://www.forbes.com/2010/04/08/china-water-drought-control-opinions-columnists-gordon-g-chang.html Will China Run Out Of Water? Chang Gordon G. April 9, 2010 Forbes.com 16 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100412071422/http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/08/china-water-drought-control-opinions-columnists-gordon-g-chang.html 12 April 2010 live as some areas in Yunnan have recorded record high temperatures during the winter since record-keeping began in 1950.http://www.bjreview.com.cn/nation/txt/2010-03/29/content_258734.htm Drought Takes its Toll Liu Yunyun April 1, 2010 Beijing Review 16 April 2010 Some areas in the drought-affected regions have seen no rainfall since before October.https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/world/asia/05china.html?src=me Spring Harvest of Debt for Parched Farms in Southern China Wangzhi Journal Asia Pacific April 4, 2010 The New York Times 11 April 2010 Spring dust storms are common in China, but have become more severe in recent years due to desertification, deforestation, drought, urban sprawl and overgrazing.https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRAywP2HiPafKiAikGO_jlpPj0GwD9EK0DR00 China's sandstorms blast Beijing with dust, sand Bodeen Christopher March 22, 2010 The Associated Press 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100326193623/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRAywP2HiPafKiAikGO_jlpPj0GwD9EK0DR00 26 March 2010 dead Countries downstream from Yunnan are also affected by drought conditions upriver, and some places including much of Vietnam have seen very little precipitation since the previous September.http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1969630,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070344/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1969630,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar dead November 5, 2012 Vietnam Feels the Heat of a 100-Year Drought Overland Martha Ann March 4, 2010 Time Inc Time 16 April 2010 A severe drought in 2009 also affected much of northern and northeast China, resulting in agricultural losses of up to 50%. Wildfire On Thursday, March 3, 2010, a wildfire ignited in the mountainous county of Longlin in Guangxi, China. Drought had already begun to impact the area previously, and the dry weather and lack of water contributed to the fire's success.Xinhua Xuequan Mu More efforts needed to fight drought in SW China, says vice premier http://reliefweb.int/report/china/more-efforts-needed-fight-drought-sw-china-says-vice-premier Reliefweb.int 26 February 2010 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 23 November 2015 2Oxfam Oxfam provides water in China's worst drought in decades: 10 Million people short of drinking water http://reliefweb.int/report/china/oxfam-provides-water-chinas-worst-drought-decades-10-million-people-short-drinking Reliefweb.int 2 March 2010 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 23 November 2015 3 The wildfire burned large volumes of forests and brush until it was finally put out six days and twenty-two hours later.Xinhua S China forest fire threatens nature reserve http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-03/04/content_9538253.htm chinadaily.com China Daily Information Co 23 November 2015 1 According to Longlin County's fire control headquarters, a day after its ignition the fire had already burned 1,400 Mu (or about 93 hectares or 229 acres) of forestland, with a front spanning 5.3 kilometers. The fire was also heading towards the Zhongshan National Nature Reserve, where over two hundred of the endangered black-necked pheasant lived and were at risk of being affected by the traveling flames. Along with the area's locals, over one hundred firefighters and a Mi-26 helicopter were employed to suppress the fire. After the fire was suppressed, the drought continued to worsen in the southern China region, especially in Guangxi.Xinhua Severe drought expands in S China region http://reliefweb.int/report/china/severe-drought-expands-s-china-region Reliefweb.int 29 March 2010 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 23 November 2015 4International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies China: Floods Information bulletin no 1 http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/51049192CB2B44828525774C004FE5A6-Full_Report.pdf Reliefweb.int United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 23 November 2015 5 Two months after the fire, torrential rain caused flash floods and landslides in the same area.NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate: Global Hazards for June 2010, published online July 2010, retrieved on November 23, 2015 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/hazards/201006. Water shortages By March 22, 2010, about 51 million people faced water shortages in a number of provinces. Commodities including sugar cane, flowers, tea, fruit, potatoes, rapeseed, medicinal ingredients, tobacco, wheat,http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-04/09/content_9705016.htm Dry spell hits where it hurts Wang Huazhong Peng Yining, Li Yingqing April 9, 2010 China Daily 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100413132021/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-04/09/content_9705016.htm 13 April 2010 live rubber and coffee have been severely affected with output reduced by as much as 50%. Authorities began to fear unrest due to soaring food prices and sent more than 10,000 armed police to the affected regions to ensure stability and help with water supplies. The three wells in the village of Xiazha in Guangxi Autonomous Region were reported to have gone completely dry for the first time since 1517, in addition to three reservoirs in the area going dry.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/7527348/Southern-China-suffers-worst-drought-in-memory.html Southern China suffers worst drought in memory Moore Malcolm March 26, 2010 Telegraph Media Group Limited Telegraph.co.uk 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100330074807/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/7527348/Southern-China-suffers-worst-drought-in-memory.html 30 March 2010 live Economic damage to agriculture and failed electricity generation from hydroelectric dams from the drought was estimated to be at least 24 billion Chinese yuan ($3.5 billion USD). Around 3,600 rivers and brooks in Guizhou have run dry, while 916,000 ha of crops were affected by drought in the province and one million farmers have left to find work in other provinces. The drought affected over 28 million farmers, and a grain shortage has affected 8 million people. The Chinese government has transferred 1.7 million tonnes of grain to the region to reduce potential inflation. About 4.348 million ha of cropland were affected by the drought in Southwestern China and 942,000 ha would yield no harvest by late March, according to China's State Commission of Disaster Relief.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/0322/1224266810808.html More than 50 million hit by drought in south of China Coonan Clifford March 22, 2010 The Irish Times 11 April 2010 In late March, the government began cloud seeding in Guizhou using silver iodide to produce rain. By April 10, the drought had eased in Chongqing due to heavy rain, but it had affected over 18 million livestock and 8.13 million ha of land.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-04/10/c_13245644.htm Drought eases in Chongqing, lingers in other affected regions Xinhua English.news.cn April 10, 2010 Xinhua News Agency English.news.cn 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100418030416/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-04/10/c_13245644.htm 18 April 2010 dead In parts of Yunnan Province inhabited by the Dai people, officials cancelled or shortened the Songkran water dousing festival due to the water shortage, including in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture and Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture.http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1981220,00.html?xid=rss-topstories https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070439/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1981220,00.html?xid=rss-topstories dead November 5, 2012 Drought Throws Cold Water on Yunnan's Water Festival Brenhouse Hillary April 13, 2010 TIME Inc Time 16 April 2010 By early June, the drought had affected close to 5 million hectares of land.The Independent June 7, 2010 Landslides, flooding kill 53 in southern China https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/landslides-and-flooding-kill-53-in-china-1993489.html The drought may also affect water levels at the headwaters of the Yangtze, Mekong and Salween Rivers. Countries downstream of the Mekong, including Thailand, suggested that the building of dams on the river such as at Lancang may be worsening the effects of drought on the river's water levels, which were at their lowest in 20 years. Fisheries along the Mekong in Thailand have halted, and 7.9 million people in the country are affected by the drought. 3,674 small dams within the river basin have dried up.http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/06/china.mekong.river.thailand.laos/ Drought grips parts of China, Southeast Asia amid dam concerns Leitsinger Miranda April 7, 2010 Turner Broadcasting System Cable News Network 17 April 2010 Hong Kong https://web.archive.org/web/20100412011928/http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/06/china.mekong.river.thailand.laos/ 12 April 2010 live The drought in Vietnam was described as the country's worst in a century. The Red River near Hanoi was by early March at a level of 0.68 m ft on, the lowest on record, and rice plantations have been severely affected. Timber fires have been sparked in several regions. The Mekong Delta experienced its lowest water levels in nearly 20 years, threatening to produce saltwater intrusion in dry areas. Some parts of Vietnam are forecast to possibly receive no rain until August. A power shortage of up to one billion kilowatt-hours could also hit the country as less water is available for hydroelectricity.http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-06/vietnam-faces-power-shortage-as-drought-hurts-hydroelectricity.html Vietnam Faces Power Shortage as Drought Hurts Hydroelectricity Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen April 6, 2010 Bloomberg Business Week 16 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100414102530/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-06/vietnam-faces-power-shortage-as-drought-hurts-hydroelectricity.html 14 April 2010 dead The El Niño conditions of the winter prior to the drought has raised concerns that the rice crop in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines may be significantly reduced by the summer.http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-07/rice-output-may-drop-in-thailand-on-drought-fao-says-update1-.html Rice Output May Drop in Thailand on Drought, FAO Says (Update2) Suwannakij Supunnabul Luzi Ann Javier April 7, 2010 Bloomberg Business Week 17 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100421044252/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-07/rice-output-may-drop-in-thailand-on-drought-fao-says-update1-.html 21 April 2010 dead The lack of precipitation caused land subsidence at Kunming Wujiaba International Airport in Yunnan. About 5,000 villagers in Yunnan Province have left their homes from the drought for streams near Himalayan foothills, and many residents in Guangxi who are able to leave have also left. However, officials have denied reports of drought refugees leaving their villages. The source of the Pearl River's headwaters was cut off, and its outflow was severely reduced. Water rationing was put into practice in some rural regions. Shortages of drinking water also affected parts of Inner Mongolia, including a water shortage for over 250,000 residents of Chifeng. Reservoirs in the city held 73.7% less water than they did one year prior and water volume had reduced by 77.4% in major rivers in the area by mid-April.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-04/10/c_13245689.htm Drought affects 250,000 people in Chifeng of Inner Mongolia Xinhua English.news.cn April 10, 2010 Xinhua News Agency English.news.cn 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100418030419/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-04/10/c_13245689.htm 18 April 2010 dead The drought has affected non-ferrous metal production in Guangxi, including of electrolytic zinc, with companies in Nandan County cutting production by 30%.http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-04/10/content_9712227.htm Lingering drought threatens SW China non-ferrous metal production Xinhua China Daily April 10, 2010 China Daily 16 April 2010 Nanning https://web.archive.org/web/20100417022907/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-04/10/content_9712227.htm 17 April 2010 live Premier Wen Jiabao visited southwestern China three times during the drought, including a three-day tour in mid-March in Yunnan, including Luliang County, which had seen no rainfall since August, to promote water conservation, and another visit in early April 2010 to several Miao and Buyei autonomous prefectures in Guizhou, some of the worst-hit places where farming has been made impossible.https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010drought/2010-04/05/content_9687187.htm Premier concerned about drought in SW China Xinhua China Daily April 5, 2010 Xinhua China Daily 11 April 2010 Guiyang Most provinces in South China affected by the drought were hit by a series of floods beginning in mid-May that ended most of the drought but also destroyed large areas of farmland.English.news.cn Xinhua Strong rain to continue in flood-hit southern China http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-05/21/c_13307917.htm 1 July 2010 Xinhuanet May 21, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100608024004/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-05/21/c_13307917.htm 8 June 2010 dead Dust storms Asian Dust Strong dust storms from the Gobi Desert in Mongolia hit Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, North Korea and Japan by March 22, before being carried across the Pacific Ocean by the jet stream, with some dust reaching the West Coast of the United States.https://www.thetimes.com/article/beijing-turned-orange-as-sandstorm-sweeps-in-j0l060kqklw Beijing turned orange as sandstorm sweeps in March 21, 2010 The Times 11 April 2010http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_505838.html Dust settles in Beijing Breaking News The Straits Times Associated Press March 24, 2010 Bloomberg The Straits Times 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100328124351/http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_505838.html 28 March 2010 livehttp://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=43207 Spring Sandstorm Scours China Terra MODIS Rebecca Lindsey March 20, 2010 Earth Observatory National Aeronautics and Space Administration 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100428080134/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=43207 28 April 2010 live The dust storm in late March spiralled around a strong low pressure system.http://www.earthweek.com/2010/ew100326/ew100326x.html Sino Sandstorm: Earth Image of the Week NASA EarthWeek March 26, 2010 MMIX Earth Environment Service EarthWeek 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100329161151/http://www.earthweek.com/2010/ew100326/ew100326x.html 29 March 2010 live Many areas recorded an extremely rare level 5 "hazardous" rating for air quality. Many flights in Beijing were also delayed or cancelled.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/20/beijing-sandstorm-2010-ph_n_506875.html Beijing Sandstorm 2010: PHOTOS Of Major China Storm AP Huffington Post March 20, 2010 The Associated Press The Huffington Post 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100326044259/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/20/beijing-sandstorm-2010-ph_n_506875.html 26 March 2010 live Air pollution readings in Hong Kong reached a record high, reaching at least 15 times the recommended maximum levels by the World Health Organization.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7072220.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20110926091921/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7072220.ece dead September 26, 2011 Hong Kong disappears in cloud of smog Macartney Jane March 23, 2010 The Times 11 April 2010 Taiwan also reported a new record for worst sandstorm conditions. A strong sandstorm tore through Turpan in Xinjiang on April 23, sparking fires that killed two people and forcing a shutdown of rail and road traffic for six hours.http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/storm_watch_stories3&stormfile=chinasand_aprtwentyfour_24_04_2010?ref=ccbox_weather_bottom_title Weather News: Extreme Weather Battles China Weather News The Weather Network April 24, 2010 Pelmorex Media Inc The Weather Network 24 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100427034803/http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/storm_watch_stories3%26stormfile%3Dchinasand_aprtwentyfour_24_04_2010?ref=ccbox_weather_bottom_title 27 April 2010 live Relief Oxfam Hong Kong provided water in Yunnan.Reliefweb.int. "Reliefweb.int." Oxfam provides water in China’s worst drought in decades: 10 Million people short of drinking water. Retrieved on 2010-03-18. A major fundraiser was also held that raised 280 million yuan. Many celebrities took part including Wang Feng, Elva Hsiao, Andy Lau, He Jie, Jackie Chan, Ye Bei zh 叶蓓, Yan Weiwen, Zhou Xiao'ou (zh-Hans 周晓欧), Bibi Zhou, and Yang Zi.Bayuq.cn http://www.bayuq.cn/n148769c22.aspx zh:《抗旱救灾 我们在行动》公益晚会募捐善款近2.8亿 2010-04-06 ж ļ ƿ 2.8 (ͼ)_ Ȧ Ĵ ɶ https://web.archive.org/web/20100414035618/http://www.bayuq.cn/n148769c22.aspx 2010-04-14 dead Ent.qq.com. "Ent.qq.com." Relief main site. Retrieved on 2010-04-06. The Hong Kong government also approved a HK$1.4 million grant.Chinahumanrights.org. "Chinahumanrights.orgAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot ." HK approves grant to help drought victims in Chinese Mainland. Retrieved on 2010-04-06. Many donations of bottled water have also arrived in Guizhou and other parts of southwestern China from around the country.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-04/10/c_13245603.htm More drought relief donations come to SW China Xinhua English.news.cn Wang Guanqun April 10, 2010 Xinhua News Agency English.news.cn 11 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100418030610/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-04/10/c_13245603.htm 18 April 2010 dead Algal blooms In mid-June 2010, a large algal bloom, consisting of enteromorpha algae, developed off the coast of Shandong, in the Yellow Sea. Causes of the algal outbreak include marine pollution from sewage and agricultural run-off, in addition to run-off from fish farms, worsened by eutrophication following the drought, subsequent flooding and heat wave, as well as high sea surface temperatures in the area. The bloom continues to expand, and preparations have been made for a flotilla of vessels to ward off the bloom, covering an area of 400 sqkm sqmi on, the largest bloom since 2008.CTV News June 25, 2010 Big algae bloom expanding off China's east coast https://www.ctvnews.ca/big-algae-bloom-expanding-off-china-s-east-coast-1.526359 https://web.archive.org/web/20241126173037/https://www.ctvnews.ca/big-algae-bloom-expanding-off-china-s-east-coast-1.526359 dead November 26, 2024 The patch of algae since expanded offshore Jiangsu Province, and is pushing toward the city of Qingdao. The Chinese State Oceanic Administration has warned that the algae could threaten marine life and local tourism,Agence France-Presse June 23, 2010 Giant China algae slick getting bigger: report Google News https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hSiWseNyLK_RtJsP8_En0NkIq8kQ dead 2010-07-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20100630075735/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hSiWseNyLK_RtJsP8_En0NkIq8kQ 30 June 2010 and other scientists have stated that the bloom could decompose on beaches and release toxic gases if not cleaned up. Close to 4,000 tonnes a day of algae is being removed from the bloom, to be sent off and used as animal feed or fertilizer. Green and red tides have become more common in China in recent years. The green tides from the current algal blooms can also result in dead zones from localized ocean anoxia.Watts Jonathan China launches armada to head off algae plume https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/07/china-algae 15 July 2010 guardian.co.uk 7 July 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100710194139/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/07/china-algae 10 July 2010 live Large blooms of jellyfish, including giant Nomura's jellyfish have also appeared off Shandong and around the coasts of Japan within the past decade, as a result of the same type of pollution in dead zones. See also 2010-2011 China drought for the drought the following year 2007 Asian heat wave 2010 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods 2010 Russian wildfires Asian brown cloud China water crisis Climate change in China Deforestation and climate change Global storm activity of 2009 Global storm activity of 2010 Green Wall of China 2010 Northern Hemisphere summer heat wave Siberian High Water resources of China Winter storms of 2009–2010 in East Asia References External links Massive China Sandstorm Seen from Space - 23 March 2010 Fires and Smoke in Eastern China - 6 July 2010 Heat wave sweeps across China - 5 August 2010 Drought And Dust Storms Category:Droughts in China Category:Natural disasters in China China Drought And Dust Storms China Drought And Dust Storms, 2010 China China,2010