Sandstorms sweeps half of China

Sandstorms have struck half of China several times since this spring, arising again public concern over ecological environment. It is learnt from the Office of Three Northern Protective Forests under State Forestry Bureau that the diversified sources of sandstorms in North, Northwest and Northeast China (three northern areas), the drop of the sources of water in northwest areas and the decline of groundwater level in some areas contributed to the expansion of sources of sandstorms.

The sharp desertification of land and the further expansion of sources of sandstorms are usually triggered by drought, decrease of rainfall and deteriorated grasslands. The desertification in Alxa league, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is spreading at a speed of 1,000 square kilometers per year, which is resulted from strong wind, drought and overgrazing. The decline of groundwater level and the wilted vegetation will lead to expansion of sources of sandstorms. In Minqin county, northwest Gansu province, due to severe water shortage and decline of groundwater for years, 130,000 mu (1/15 hectare) artificial protection forests drooped and 350,000 mu natural ones died or are dying.

By People's Daily Online