China: Meteorological satellite monitors snow cover in drought-hit areas

The on-going drought in northern China draws great attention from the public. As an important body for weather monitoring, the National Satellite Meteorological Center of China Meteorological Administration (CMA) found snow cover in North China and Yellow-Huaihe River valley since Feb. 11, the most-hit areas by drought.

According to the monitoring of the FY-3B meteorological satellite at 13:25 on Feb. 14, it was sunny in Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, most parts of Shandong, northern Jiangsu, and western Anhui. Snow cover was found in central and northern Shanxi, isolated areas in northwestern, eastern and southwestern Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, parts of central-western and eastern Shandong, parts of northern Henan, parts of northern Jiangsu, and parts of northern Shaanxi. The snow coverage in Shanxi was decreased in comparison with that in Feb. 13. Clouds hanged above most parts of Anhui, most parts of Jiangsu, and parts of central Shandong.

From Feb. 9 to 10, North China witnessed snowfall. The FY-3A meteorological satellite monitored snow cover in Beijing, Tianjin, northern and western Hebei, northern Shanxi, and southern Inner Mongolia. The second snowfall process came on night of Feb. 12 to morning of Feb. 14, the satellite found snow cover in Shanxi, northwestern and central Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, parts of northern and southern Shaanxi, and parts of northwestern and northern Henan. The monitoring image provides important references for meteorological drought conditions and forecast. (Feb. 15)

Published by: ReliefWeb
Full Article: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/JARD-8E48FE?OpenDocument