Climate change threatens agricultural output

Since the beginning of this summer, northern China has been experiencing abnormally high temperatures and low precipitation. For instance, in the Huang-Huai region (Northern China Plain) and some other parts of northern China, temperatures were 2-4 degree Celsius above normal while precipitation was more than 80 percent below normal from May 6 to 16. While daily maximum temperature in most areas was above 32 C, in some areas the temperature was as high as 40 C, indicating the early arrival of hot and scorching weather, though the rainfall on May 17-19 helped lower the temperature to some extent and replenish the soil. However, according to the China Meteorological Administration, high temperatures are expected to continue. Last year, for instance, the Yangtze River Basin, despite the "triple" La Nina event, experienced the most severe drought since reliable record-keeping began. During the prolonged drought period, China experienced an extremely unusual phenomenon: while the northern region was battered by floods, the southern region was in the grip of drought. The drought persisted throughout the summer, fall and winter, resulting in dried-up reservoirs and lower water level in rivers, which reduced power generation, disrupted water supply and caused severe damage to crops.