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FENGYUN meteorological satellites play an instrumental role in serving spring disaster preparedness

Source:China Meteorological News Press29-04-2022

Since this spring, weather conditions in China have been complicated and changeable. Weather conditions like sand and dust storm, as well as severe convection have occurred. Meteorological departments at all localities have constantly consolidated the integrated application capacity of FENGYUN meteorological satellites, focused on key areas, actively explored application venues, and endeavored to build the first defense of meteorological disaster preparedness. 

On April 19, FENGYUN-3C meteorological satellite detected fire condition near the neighboring regions of Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Meteorological departments provided monitoring information to relevant departments as soon as possible, activated emergency response, kept tabs on weather change, and provided accurate and timely meteorological support for emergency response relief work.

True color image captured by FY-4A meteorological satellite

Around April 6, noticeable temperature drop and gale weather occurred in most parts of Liaoning province. To capture this weather process, Liaoning Provincial Meteorological Service applied nascent convection cloud identification technology in Northeast China based on FY-4 satellites data, and can detect convection system 10 minutes ahead of radars, which can provide reliable basis for short-range nowcasting. 

Sand and dust storm monitoring image captured by FY-4A meteorological satellite

On April 10, severe convection like thunderstorm, and gale consecutively appeared in regions like Sichuan, and Chongqing. Chongqing Municipal Meteorological Observatory utilized FY-4A multi-channel observation data to accurately pinpoint the location of the cold front and predict its movement speed. It has released yellow warning signal of gale 60 minutes to 120 minutes in advance targeted at different districts and counties. Hu Chunmei, Chief forecaster from Chongqing Municipal Meteorological Observatory remarked that the high resolution observation data provided by FY-4A satellite have strongly underpinned the monitoring and early warning of this severe convection. 

Monitoring image captured by FY-4A satellite at 3:00 p.m. on April 12

On April 20, blowing sand and sand and dust storm occurred in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. FY-3D satellite has kept tabs on the sand and dust storm process. Based on monitoring data, Autonomous Regional Meteorological Service of Inner Mongolia joined hands with Department of Ecology and Environment of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in consolidating weather consultation and timely dissemination of early warning. Meteorological satellite ground station in Urumqi has harnessed FY meteorological satellites to carry out sand and dust storm monitoring, and also determined the area of origin, movement speed and track via multi-time level remote-sensing image comparison analysis.

From April 20 to 21, large scale sand and dust storm weather occurred in central-northern Ningxia. Blowing sand and flowing sand emerged in some parts of Ningxia, like Yinchuan, Shizuishan, Wuzhong, Zhongwei. Ningxia Provincial Meteorological Observatory has strengthened the localized application of FY-4 satellites cloud images products, timely released sand and dust storm forecasting product, and provided support for tackling adverse weather impacts.

Currently, it is time for spring forest and grassland fire prevention period. Heilongjiang Provincial Meteorological Service has harnessed satellite data to release provincial monitoring report, and timely provide first-hand fire condition information for relevant departments. 

Editor: Liu Shuqiao