The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) yesterday announced the completion of a national climate observation network to help mitigate global warming.

CMA director Zheng Guoguang said the network would collect accurate information about climate change.

"Climate change is threatening the environment, state security and economic development," Zheng said.

Responding to a UN plan, China's first climate observation network was set up in 1997. Seven departments -- meteorology, water affairs, agriculture, environmental protection, forestry, ocean and scientific research -- joined the network.

The network set up 16 key observation areas, Zhang Renhe, director of the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences Director, said.

These are: Atmosphere and land systems in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, glacier; water and ecological systems in the Tianshan Mountain area; Xilingol pastures in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; Dunhuang desert in Gansu Province; forests in northeast China; water circulation systems in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces; agriculture in the Yellow and Huaihe river basins; the lakes of Dongting and Poyang; the atmosphere around Mount Waliguan in Qinghai Province; ecological systems in source regions of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers; the economic belt around Beijing; economic development zones in the Yangtze and Pearl River deltas; Sichuan Basin; the land-ocean-atmosphere system around Bohai Sea; air-sea interaction in the South China Sea; and comprehensive oceanic observations.

By observation and data processing, the network should provide data about temperatures, glaciers, frozen soil, accumulated snow, aerosoles, greenhouse gases, ozone, plant and soil.

"This data can help China predict natural disasters, strengthen forecasts of extreme weather events and be more adaptable when it comes to industrial projects," Zheng said.

A National Climate Change Program was released in June, which pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but with no specific goals.

(China Daily September 12, 2007)