8. Climate and Natural Disasters

Year-round precipitation was low, and average temperatures were comparatively high, with some excessively high temperatures being recorded. A number of rainstorms and snowstorms occurred in winter, whilst spring was characterised by low temperatures. Rainfall was as expected throughout the majority of the province at the beginning of wet season, and precipitation in summer was normal for the season. However, July and August witnessed severely high temperatures and dry weather. The wet season had finished in the majority of the province by early October, which was 10-15 days earlier than in recent years. Overall, climate conditions in 2003 were stable.

Rainfall Distribution

The yearly average rainfall was 933mm, which were 148mm less than the average in past years. Compared with previous years, with the exception of Jiangcheng, Lancang and Guangnan, which had a normal or higher precipitation, the remainder of the province experienced 20-30% less rainfall. Only 32 counties in the province had a precipitation in excess of 1,000mm. In the wet season, there were, in all counties of the province, 797 heavy rains, 193 rainstorms, 11 heavy rainstorms, and 3 extremely heavy rainstorms. Compared with the average in past years, heavy rains and rainstorms were considerably less frequent, while the heavy rainstorm and extremely heavy rainstorms were more prevalent.

Temperature Distribution

The yearly average temperature of the counties and cities of the province was higher than the average of past years. The average temperature of most areas of the province was 0.5 degree higher or more. Among these, the temperature of the central and southeast and southwest and northwest and northeast Yunan was 1.0-1.9 degrees higher. 103 counties and cities, covering 83% of all counties or cities in province, were identified as those with higher temperatures, (i.e. above 0.5 degrees). 33 counties and cities, covering 27% of all counties or cities in the province, were identified as those with extremely high temperatures, which was above 1.0 degree. The center of the maximum temperature departure value was at 1.6 degrees, found in Kunming and the minimum departure value was at 0.1 degrees, found in Ninglang.

Meteorological Disaster

On the 5 th and 6 th January 2003, snow disasters occurred in northern and eastern area of central Yunnan . This affected crops to the extent that between 0.6865 million mu and 0.2573 million mu was severely damaged in these disaster areas. Wind disasters occurred 53 times across Yunnan , with an affected population of 140,500, an area of affected crops of 20,600 mu, 37,382 civilian houses, 1 fatality and 7 people wounded. Hailstone disasters occurred 112 times across all counties of Yunnan , with an affected population of 315,700, an area of affected crops of 669,300 mu and damaged crops of 307,600 mu, 35,462 civilian houses, 1 fatality and 27 people wounded. A number of thunder and lightning-related disasters occurred, with 5 people dead and 13 people wounded, and the death of 25 livestock. Meanwhile, numerous types of electrical appliances and equipment were damaged by lightning, as well as high-pressure electric grids.

Flood Disasters

A total of 16 prefectures and cities, 114 counties and districts, 1071 towns and townships, and 4.0864 million people were impacted by flood disasters. 4 cities were submerged and 9,600 houses collapsed with a death toll of 107 people. 227,000 hectares of farmland were impacted and 119,500 hectares of farmland were severely damaged. As a result, 30,700 hectares of farmland were unable to yield and 208,200 tons of crops were lost. The direct economic loss, caused by the flood disasters in 2003, totalled 1,234 million Yuan. The direct economic loss from flooding to water facilities reached 249 million Yuan. The direct economic loss avoided from flooding due to anti-flooding projects totalled 1,930 million Yuan.

Drought Disasters

In 2003, Yunnan experienced its most serious drought occurred in 10 years. The direct economic loss by the drought was 2,398 million Yuan. The total storage volume of water resources of all reservoirs in Yunnan was 5,413 million m³ , which was 673 million m³ less than that of the same period of the previous year. The significant decline in storage volume of water resources of reservoirs, led to difficulties in obtaining drinking water supply for rural people and animals. Wide areas were affected and crops suffered drought for a considerable period. 2003 also witnessed the second worst drought in the past 15 years.

Geological Disasters

There were 1,691 cases of geological disasters in Yunnan, including 1,234 landslides, 220 mud-rock flows, 173 land collapses, 62 ground-subsidence and 2 other geological disasters, which led to 61 deaths, 1 person unaccounted for and 96 people injured. Some areas of farmland were damaged. Houses, communication facilities, telecommunications and water conservancy resources were damaged to different extents, which led to the direct economic loss of 360 million Yuan.

Earthquake Disasters

There were 4 cases of earthquakes across the province, which measured above 5 on the Richter Scale. About 1.09 million people were affected and the area affected by the earthquakes was around 7,697km². In the disasters, 23 people died, 113 people were seriously injured and 649 people were lightly injured. Houses, amounting to an area of 148,100m² were totally destroyed, with homes totalling a further 1.0313 million m² seriously damaged and another 5.3021 million m² of properties were lightly damaged. The total direct economic loss caused by the earthquakes was 1,292.4 million Yuan.

Measures and Actions

Geological Disaster Forecasting Strengthened and the Disaster Prevention and Relief Service Improved

A new network of geological disaster prevention and forecasting for the whole province has established. In 2003, 209 disasters were successfully forecasted, which avoided a casualty of 7,498 individuals who were urgently evacuated. An economic loss of 130 million Yuan was avoided.