China's ecological environment significantly improved in recent years. Chinese meteorological departments have found a new path to serve the ecological civilization, which is to reconsider climate resources in the process of national economic construction and has formulated a batch of climate brands.

China Meteorological Administration (CMA) makes the scientific plans and issues the "The 13th Five-Year Meteorological Support Plan for the Ecological Civilization Construction " to play the full role of meteorology in ecological protection and restoration. The meteorological legal system for ecological civilization has been continuously improved. More than 20 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) have issued local regulations and government regulations on the protection and development of climate resources. More than half of the provincial meteorological departments across the country have set up eco-meteorological and remote sensing centers. In Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang and other provinces, the meteorological departments have also undertaken local ecological remote sensing responsibilities.

For example, in 2019, Jixi municipal meteorological department of Heilongjiang province has established 4 ecological meteorological monitoring stations like wetland ecological station in Kaihu Lake natural reserve，and agricultural ecological station in Hulin. Among them, wetland ecological station in Kaihu Lake will fill up the ecological meteorological monitoring data gap, and provide meteorological basis for climate change analysis and ecological environment in this area.

Every year, CMA also releases some bulletin or reports on ecological areas to introduce the meteorological conditions for ecology.

Nature Oxygen Zone of China

In 2016, China Meteorological Service Association (CMSA) formally initiated the establishment initiative of Nature Oxygen Zone of China. In line with overall national deployment of ecological civilization construction, this innovative work is pushed forward in a social-based manner.

In 2017, the second session of Nature Oxygen Zone of China establishment campaign was kicked off. Over 40 county-level governments and tourism resorts have submitted applications. Ultimately, 19 regions have been listed as the establishment areas of 2017 Nature Oxygen Zone of China. Saihanba, Weichang County, Hebei is listed as the demonstration site.

The criteria include no less than 3 months of annual living environment and climate comfort level; average annual negative oxygen ion concentration no less than 1000 per cubic centimeter; annual AQI index no larger than 100; self-contained tourism facilities; service management regulations and other fundamental qualifications; these areas have attracted a growing number of people, coming afar to breathe in the fresh air.

Nature Oxygen Zone of China

National Meteorological Park

In March, 2017, CMA has formally approved and authorized CMSA to organize and launched National Meteorological Park pilot construction work. National Meteorological Park takes meteorological tourism resources as its main body, with multiple functions in recreation, touring, science popularization and education, as well as cultural researches.

Actually, this is a brand new model developed by meteorological sector to serve the ecological civilization. In 2017, climate brands have formed synergy. Besides Nature Oxygen Zone of China, National Climate Center (NCC) also proposed the initiative to explore“China climate symbols”in the entire nation. NCC conducted national climate resources survey, and formulated and distributed ecological quality monitoring and evaluation products of weather, climate, mountain, water, forest, terrain, lake or grassland. Furthermore, it also takes into account indicators like climate comfort level, negative oxygen ions, air cleanness level, meteorological landscape.

CMSA proposed the conception of establishing world meteorological park system, which includes world meteorological parks, national meteorological parks, ecologically meteorological parks, meteorological theme parks, and so on. In 2017, relevant experts from World Meteorological Organization (WMO) participated in the discussions of pilot construction of national meteorological parks. Relevant documents have been rolled out in succession. The pilot work is gradually launched.

Guangmingding Meteorological Observatory, Mount Huangshan From VCG

In 2017, by means of serving ecological civilization, observation standardization and data from meteorological sector has been publicized and incorporated into national observation system.

National Climate Symbol Cities

After the expert review organized by NCC, Jiande in Zhejiang and Arxan in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region made the list of the first batch of National Climate Symbol Cities. Jiande is certified as climate livable city in China, while Arxan is certified as climate ecological city in China.

Arxan, national climate symbol city

National climate symbol is an authoritative certification of comprehensive qualification of the climate and ecological resources in a certain place, and a vital vehicle to tap into climate ecological potentials and values. The assessment and certification work can serve as guidance for people to have a science-based knowledge of climate, adapt to climate, harness climate and strive to protect the climate. It is also conducive to developing and leverage climate resources, explore climate values, protect climate ecological environments, create climate services models, and drive sustainable socio-economic development.

In December, 2017, CMA released opinions on reinforcing meteorological support for ecological civilization construction, and proposed to shape up serial national climate symbol brands. In November 2017, certification work was kicked off.

Arxan boasts splendid natural beauty, which springs from its distinctive climate advantages and ecological environment. Its average annual temperature registered -2.2℃, with annual precipitation of 441.4 mm. It is an area plentiful in precipitation in northern China.

National Climate Symbol Evaluation Report demonstrated that Arxan possessed more snowfall days and longer spells of accumulated snow. Ice and snow resources have sustainable application and development advantages.

Jiande, Arxan, national climate symbol city

According to statistics, in 2017, forest coverage rate in Jiande, amounted to 76.2%. On an annual basis, the forest absorbs 1.071 million tons of carbon dioxide. In recent years, average urban negative oxygen ions concentration surpassed 1300 per cubic centimeter.

In recent 5 years, good rate of environment air in Jiande has registered 90.9%. Besides, PM2.5 index is on constant decrease citywide. In 2017, this figure dropped to 29 microgram per cubic meter. Jiande is abundant in climate landscape, climate resources, green agricultural products.

An expert of NCC, introduced that national climate symbol was not previous climate evaluation, and was different to climate feasibility verification. Now NCC has turned its work priorities to the development and application of climate resources.

Oriented towards the overall layout of future Arxan economic and social development and ecological civilization construction, climate resources application, development, and protection should be incorporated into the overall planning.

Ecological civilization construction bears on people’s wellbeing and nationality’s future. Confronted with complex climate change, meteorological sector will join force with ecological civilization construction in building a beautiful China.

Weather modification

Weather modification in China has expanded from solitary disaster prevention and mitigation to fending off hazards and bettering ecological environment.

Modern Ark 60 (MA60), CMA's first weather modification aircraft, which put into operation officially in 2015.

For instance, Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve is the cradle of Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Lancang River. It is an ecological vulnerable area. Weather modification project in this nature reserve was kick-started in 2006. Operation impacted areas like lakes and wetlands have expanded and water conservation function has been gradually restored. The area in Zhaling Lake and Eling Lake has enlarged by 25.89 square kilometers and 50.34 square kilometers respectively. Prairie biomass and coverage has multiplied and the ecological environment has moved towards a benign direction. Total area of prairie has increased by 1093.3 square kilometers. 

Editor Hao Jing