Climate Events and Impacts over China in 2012

1. Climate Events and Impactsover China in 2012 HUANG Dapeng National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration

2. Contents 1. Characteristics of temperature 2. Characteristics of Precipitation 3. Significant Climate Events

3. Annual average temperature for 2012 was slightly below normal 9.4℃，0.2℃ below normal 1981-2010 average Temperature（℃） Year Annual average temperature for China during 1961-2012

4. Average temperature anomalies over China in 2012 Below normal Above normal Annual average temperatures were below normal in Northeast China and North China, and above normal in Southwest China.

5. Above-normal temperatures were present for spring, summer and autumn with the exception of winter Temperature anomalies for each season over China in 2012(unit:℃) • Winter temperature was -4.3℃ and ranked the lowest since 1986 • Autumn temperature was 9.6℃,marking the eighth consecutive year with an above-normal temperature.

6. Near-normal hot Days (daily maximum temperature ≥ 35℃) for 2012 8.2d near-normal Hot days (d) Year Hot days anomalies over China Annual average hot days for China during 1961-2011 • The number of hot days in 2012 ranked the lowest in the recent 8 years. • 32 stations broke daily maximum temperature records

7. Above-normal precipitation for China 669.3mm 6.3 percent above normal Precipitation totals (mm) Precipitation anomaly percentage （%） Year Annual average precipitation totals for China during 1951-2011 • The total precipitation in China was 669.3mm, 6.3 percent above normal, and 20.4 % above 2011. above-normal precipitation

8. Above-normal precipitation totals were present for spring, summer and autumn with the exception of winter Precipitation anomalies of China in each month of 2011(mm) • Drier-than-normal conditions in winter, wetter-than-normal conditions in spring, summer and autumn consecutively in China

9. Significant climate events Meteorological disasters impacted regional areas seriously 1. Less heavy-rainfall and flood hazards in general and serious regional, flash floods and geological disasters 2. The number of tropical cyclones was near average and the landing time of typhoons was concentrated and the affected region was wide 3. Significant regional and staging drought with less influence 4. Frequent regional low temperature, overcast and rainy weather 5. Sand and dustdays for spring in northern China ranked the lowest since 1961 6. Frequent haze in central-eastern China

10. 335.8billion yuanfor 2012 The 1990-2011 average is 214.8 billion yuan Direct economic loss (× 108yuan) Year Annual direct economic losses caused by meteorological disasters during 1990-2012

11. 1390persons for 2012 The 1990-2011 average is 3914 persons Number of the dead/missing persons caused by meteorological disasters during 1990-2012

12. Less heavy-rainfall and flood hazards in general • Affected areas and the number of the dead or missing persons caused by heavy rainfall and flood hazardswere much below the 1990-2011 average • The direct economic loss was more than 160 billion Yuan, slightly above the 1990-2011 average. • In general, 2012 was a year with less heavy-rainfall and flood hazards.

13. Regional flash floods and serious geological disasters 358.2 mm for 2012 The average precipitation for Apr 4 to May 15 in six provinces of China during 1951-2012 • Frequent heavy-rainfall and local floods for Spring in the south of China: The precipitation for six provinces in the south of China during Apr 5th to May 15th was 358.2 mm, which was 43.3 percent above the 1980-2010 average of 250mm and ranked the wettest year in recent 32 years.

14. Precipitation totals for mid to end of July, 2012 in China • Flood hazards in several provinces along the upper and middle reaches of Yangtze River for mid to end of July, 2012.

15. Torrential rains hit Beijing, Tianjing and Hebei in the end of July, resulting in more than 100 fatalities. Rainfall over Beijingfrom 21 and 22 July 2012 averaged 190.3mm, which was a once-in-a-hundred-year event Rainfall totals from July 21 and 22 in Beijing, Tianjing and Hebei

16. Flooded streets in Beijing

17. Landing time of typhoons was concentrated and the affected region was wide • Landing time of typhoons was concentrated. • The number of landing typhoons for 2012 was 7 and six typhoons landed China in 30 days. “DAMREY”, “SAOLA” and “HAIKUI” landed China duringone week at the beginning of Augustand the frequency ranked the highest in recent 17 years. • Typhoons impacted China widely • The landing locations stretched from the coastal area of South China to that of northern China. “DAMREY”, “SAOLA” and “HAIKUI” affected 15 provinces (or autonomous regions and municipalities) • Five typhoons moving northward impacted Northeast China in 2012 which ranked the busiest year on record.

18. 25 Number of tropical cyclones formed during 1971-2012

19. Less deaths and great economic losses caused by tropical cyclone 104.8 billion yuan , the costiest year since 1990 Direct economic loss (× 108yuan) 96 fatalities Much below the 1990- 2011 average of 410 deaths Annual direct economic losses and death toll caused by tropical cyclones during 1990-2012

20. Significant regional and staging drought with less influence 114.6 mm Annual precipitation totals from Dec.1,2011 to May 24,2012 over Yunnan Province • Consecutive Drought for winter and spring in Southwest China • Rainfall over Yunnan from Dec.1,2011 to May 24,2012 averaged 114.6 mm, 41 percent below 1981-2010 average, which ranked the lowest since 1980.

21. Extreme drought and severe drought in Huanghuaiand Jianghuairegions. Summer drought in Hubei, Chongqing and Henan Province Meteorological drought monitoring over China on June 25, 2012 Meteorological drought monitoring over China on Aug. 17, 2012

22. Frequent regional low temperature, overcast and rainy weather • Serious low temperature and rainy weather in parts of southern China in early 2012 The average temperature from early January to the middle of March in nine provinces (Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou and Shanghai）ranked the third lowest in recent 27 years，the precipitation ranked the most since 1999, the rain days ranked the most since 1951; the sunshine duration in Jiangxi, Zhejiang and much of Fujian ranked the lowest since 1951 • Frequent overcast and rainy weather and large amounts of rain in Jiangnan and Huanan regions The rain days in Guangdong Province ranked the most since 1951; The rain days in Zhejiang and Jiangxi ranked the most in recent 46 years; The precipitation ranked the most since 1951 in Fujian and Guangdong and the second most in Jiangxi;

23. Frequency of sand and dust storm for spring in northern China ranked the lowest since 1961 Sand and dust days (d) 1.3 days for 2012 Year Sand and dust days (sand-blowing, sandstorm, strong sandstorm) averaged over northern China in Spring (March-May) during 1961-2011

24. 10 sand and dust storm events for 2012, much below the 1981-2010 average of 17 6 sandstorms and strong sandstorms for 2012, 2 times below the 2001 – 2010 average Frequency of sand and dust storm events over northern China in Spring during 2000-2011 • The earliest beginning date of sand and dust storms in 2012 was 20 March, which ranked the latest since 2001

25. Frequency haze in central-eastern China Haze days anomalies over China in 2012 (unit:d) The haze days for 2012 was much above the 1981-2010 average • The averaged haze days in the area on the east of 100o E was 16 being 7.2 days above the 1981-2010 average, which ranked the 4th most since 1961

26. Significant Meteorological disasters and Climate Events in 2012 Snow disasterHeilongJiang experience the snowstorm in middle of Novermber Flood The heavy rainfall caused waterlogging and inundation in big cities such as Beijing and Tianjing during the summer. Snowmelt Flood In western Xinjiang, winter snow are more than the normal, it melts after the spring and results in flood Snow disasterNorth China suffered the cold wave and snowstorm in early Novermber Geological disaster Flash floods and debris flow disasters occurred in Minxian of Gansu, Ningnan of Sichuan, Yiliang of Yunnan Frog In autumn, Fog and haze are frequent in central and eastern china, which effects air quality and traffic. FloodThe most serious flood for summer in upper and middle reaches of Yellow River since 1989 DroughtHuanghuai and Jianghuai experienced drought In early summer Hot daysThe persistent hot waves hit Huanghuai and much of Southern China in summer and numerous locations broke the maximum temperature records. Typhoonseven tropical cyclones landedchina with the intensity being slightly above normal, affected areas being wide and much disaster in general. FloodThe upper and middle reaches of Yangtze River experienced flood in mid to end of July Flood numerous locations suffered flood disasters in Jiangnan and South China in Spring Low temperatureSerious low temperature and rainy weather in parts of southern China in early 2012 DroughtThe southwest of China experienced winter-spring drought Convection In April, strong convectionhit southern China and caused serious casualties and losses

27. Thanks!