Chinanews, Beijing, Beijing, Jan. 12 – Precipitation in Beijing was extremely small in 2006. Actually, Beijing’s precipitation amount last year was one of the smallest since 1951. Since Beijing has had a relatively dry weather for eight years consecutively, the city now experiences a severe shortage of water resources.

 

Director-general at the National Climate Center Dong Wenjie said that in 2006, precipitation in China was generally the same as in previous years. Most of the places in China had normal precipitation. However, precipitation amount in Chongqing, Sichuan Province, was recorded as the last but one since 1951. In Beijing, its precipitation amount was recorded as the last but two since 1951. The two places both experienced severe water shortage last year. In places, such as Tianjin, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Hubei, Tibet and Hainan, precipitation was also smaller than usual, said Dong.

 

In 2006, most of the places in northern China had smaller precipitation than usual and in Beijing, the small precipitation problem is even more serious than the rest of the region.

 

An expert from the National Climate Center told this reporter that the small precipitation is the result of climate changes. Due to big climate changes, precipitation in north China regions has kept declining over the past two decades.