Atmospheric Science in China

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the present state of meteorology and atmospheric science in China, which has developed its own meteorological satellites, various meteorological radars, meteorological data collection and communication systems, and a warning and prediction system. The Chinese Meteorological Administration (CMA) and various provincial meteorological bureaus conduct the meteorology related tasks in China, and for this, around 2,000,000 people are employed. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed the extraseasonal dynamic climate prediction system (CP-II), which has successfully predicted the summer drought and flood tendency patterns in China since 1998, and which has been provided to the operational department as a real-time prediction system. China also actively participates in the international climate research projects, including WCRP, IPCC, and IGBP and has made important contributions in this respect. The International Centre for Climate and Environment Sciences (ICCES), CAS and T-RRC of START has especially been engaging in this kind of research. The scientists of Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) have concentrated on the study of cloud and rain characteristics, artificial modification of precipitation, and the principles and technology of suppressing hailstorms, which have been widely used in practice. Since the 1970s, the detection stations and network for air pollution monitoring have been set up in succession for the observation and controlling of various pollutants in the atmosphere, especially in urban areas.