On May 30, China Meteorological Administration (CMA) held a report meeting on drought relief of 7 provinces in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River valley further summarizing and deploying meteorological service work for drought relief.
Zheng Guoguang, Administrator of CMA, chaired the meeting and emphasized that all levels of meteorological departments should pay high attention to the issue and coordinate actively to do a good job of service for drought situation monitor, forecast and warning. Drought relief and flood control both should be put as top priority.
Zheng Guoguang put forward four points for the drought relief and flood control work:
First, pay high attention and strengthen leadership. All levels of meteorological departments should strengthen awareness of responsibility, overall situation, service, and make preparation for severe drought. All levels of meteorological departments should carry out investigation, deploy and implement of meteorological service for drought relief and provide pertinent service.
Second, strengthen weather consultation and coordinate actively to do a good job of drought monitor, forecast and warning work. Continue to strengthen monitor and assessment of weather, drought situation, and earth moisture and take advantage of satellite remote-sensing and regional automatic station to closely monitor the development of drought and rainfall situation. Reinforce coordinating with upper and lower units and intensive consultation and strengthen monitor and forecast for every weather process. High attention should be paid on the weather and rainfall in cities and towns that suffer water supply. Do better job for decision-making service. Timely release and update meteorological drought warning. Strengthen information communication and sharing with sectors of civil affaires, agriculture, water resources, and forestry and release pertinent forecast service products.
Third, make overall arrangements and make efforts both on drought relief and flood control as well as forecast and warning of severe convective weather. At present, the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River has entered major flood season, which will bring more severe convective weather such as severe rainfall, thunderstorm, gale and hail. There will be uncertainties on the rainfall in the drought-hit middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River valley. In this situation, drought could be changed into flood swiftly, and isolated severe convective weather and the induced disaster should be closely monitored. Early warning work for severe weather must be one of the top priorities.
Fourth, do a good job of scientific outreach and publicity. Organize experts to analyze, assess, and publicize of the cause of drought and scientifically publicize measures of drought relief to the public.
Jiao Meiyan, Deputy Administrator of CMA, urges to be fully aware of the importance and complexity of drought relief work providing pertinent meteorological service.
At the meeting, National Climate Centre, National Meteorological Centre, and meteorological bureaus from Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai reported on the drought situation, prediction of weather and climate trend and services. (May 31)
Reporter He Mengjie
Editor Zhang Yong