Europe is not the only area in the world to experience heat waves and drought this summer. China is experiencing the strongest heat wave ever recorded in its history, while the state of drought has been declared on half of its territory.
Heat waves are not unusual in China, but this summer the country of nearly 10 million km2 is facing abnormally intense weather events. Many rivers are dry and, just like in France, the lack of water endangers crops: 20% have already been destroyed. Chinese growth is threatened, as some provinces such as Sichuan have had to take measures to save electricity, which comes mainly from hydraulic dams.
Franceinfo returns in images to the climate catastrophe that is hitting the country.
An unimaginable heat wave
“Beibei [ville de la municipalité de Chongquing] reached 45°C for two consecutive days and some places did not drop below 34°C at night”related the mBritish meteorologist Scott Duncan on August 20 on Twitter. A few days later, Wednesday August 24, in the province of Sichuan, a few hundred kilometers further east, the temperature showed 44°C. The next day, the mercury rose again to nearly 42°C in Chongqing (Southwest).
Unimaginable heat in China
The longevity and intensity of the heatwave is hard to understand. Too many heat records to count, both day and night.
Beibei hit 45°C for two consecutive and some places not falling below 34°C at night.
The heat is ongoing… pic.twitter.com/pxWgaMDZQ0
— Scott Duncan (@ScottDuncanWX) August 20, 2022
The heat wave hitting China has forced some factories to shut down. Sichuan has ordered all factories closed for six days, from August 15 to 20. Electricity was also rationed in the province. HAS Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, billboards and illuminations have been off since August 16.
How severe is the drought in China’s Sichuan province?
“Hitting rock bottom” in some reservoirs
Power rationing continues due to +40C heatwave ️ and low hydro power output ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/8i9Cy1xnyF
—Yan Qin (@YanQinyq) August 17, 2022
Asia’s longest dry river
the Yangtze, the largest river in Asia, with 6,300 km in length and an average flow of 30,000 m3, is dry. A disaster for cities that depend on this source of water to function. HAS Chongqing, also called “the mountain city”, the Yangtze meets its tributary, the Jialing River. This year, both rivers are at their lowest levels on record.
#Yangtze tributary runs dry as severe drought hits #Chongqing, #China. The Jialing river is normally 70 meters deep and about 200 meters wide.
pic.twitter.com/3uWt0Yqw14— Auron (@auron83591234) August 19, 2022
In Wuhan, capital of Hubei province in central China, the Yangtze has receded so much that the curious venture to walk on the dry bed of the river. The opportunity also to escape the oppressive heat by bathing in what remains of water.
People walking we what would ordinarily be tea bed of tea Yangtze River at Wuhan. pic.twitter.com/AUQMAh3Xvx
— Chris Courtney (@CJCourtneyWuhan) august 20, 2022
The country’s largest freshwater reserve halved
“The drought has exposed intricate, tree-like patterns hidden beneath Poyang Lake”, a Chinese government official tweeted Monday, August 22. Behind this art of nature hides a catastrophe for the province of Jiangxi, in the south-east of the country.
#Drought has unveiled intricate tree-shaped patterns hidden under Poyang Lake, #China‘s largest freshwater lake in #Jiangxi Province. pic.twitter.com/iHVradwwWG
— libijian李碧建 (@libijian2) August 22, 2022
Poyang Lake, which is the country’s largest freshwater reserve, has been halved due to drought. He ifextended on 183 km2, Thursday August 24, for an average area of 344 km2 usually.
The largest freshwater lake in China (Poyang) shrinks to its smallest size in years due to the mega drought. “The lake’s area was 183 square kilometers (73 square miles) Thursday, nearly half the average of 344 square kilometers recorded each year on this day since 1951.” pic.twitter.com/sIXNdQNjrA
—Peter Dynes (@PGDynes) August 23, 2022
Similar situation for the lake Dongtingalso dried up in the province of Hunan. Its area has been drastically reduced compared to the measurements made in 2020 at the same time.
This thread shows the impact of China’s recent heatwave and drought.
Starting with these satellite images of Dongting Lake (洞庭湖) showing the situation over the last month compared to 2020.
All using Sentinel-2 data processed on Google Earth Engine. pic.twitter.com/yUQN5F2a8U—Nathan Ruser (@Nrg8000) August 22, 2022