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Beijingers Warned of Heavy Sandstorm Season

At least 10 sandstorms could hit Beijing this spring, dumping tons of sand and grit both in central and suburban areas, according to local meteorologists. Driven by high winds, the annual storms sweep across the city before continuing east to the Korean peninsular. As part of a source-control program, the State Administration of Forestry and other government authorities are doing all they can to reduce the onslaught by creating a vast "green" arc of trees to the north of the capital, and greening huge areas of land which, over the years, have become virtual dustbowls due to erosion.

The meteorologists explained that, last year, north-western China recorded above average spring rainfall and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region even experienced several snowstorms. But ground-surface humidity was not the sole deciding factor behind sandstorms. Based on information collected by two satellites monitoring the phenomenon, they believe many other factors, such as the strength of cold air, ground-surface vegetation and atmospheric circumfluence are all related to the formation of the storms.