Extreme weather more routine across China

• Source: Global Times
• [02:09 December 01 2009]
• Comments

A woman walks in snow on a snow-covered road in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on Nov. 13, 2009. The heaviest snowfall this winter hit Liaoning Province since the afternoon of Nov. 12. (Xinhua Photo)

By Zhang Lei

China Meteorological Administration officials Monday said the country is experiencing much more extreme weather conditions as a result of global warming.

"Global warming has a great impact on social and economic development, and increases extreme weather conditions and disasters around the world," Yu Xinwen, spokesman of the bureau said.

The spokesman issued the comments during a monthly news conference Monday in which he summed up the weather in November. The bureau is asking the public to help pick the top 10 most dangerous weather events both in China and abroad.

The bureau asked for public participation in order to highlight the impact of climate change and to raise public awareness ahead of the Copenhagen Climate Conference scheduled for next week.

It listed 15 weather disasters in the nation such as the severe drought, torrential rains, high temperatures, typhoons and the recent strong convective weather throughout China.

For example, the temperature in North China surpassed 40 C (104 F), and there was a severe typhoon in Taiwan Province in August.