Three Gorges Dam is not Concerned in Disasters Happened in Yangtze River Basin

The Analysis and Evaluation of Three Gorges Project Climate Effect indicates that Three Gorges Dam is not concerned in the droughts and floods happened in Yangtze River Basin.

National Climate Center of China Meteorological Administration organized experts conducted an analysis and evaluation of Three Gorges Project climate effect a few days ago. Result of the analysis and evaluation indicates that Three Gorges Project only has a certain effect on the temperature and precipitation of the region less than 20 kilometers away from Three Gorges Reservoir Area. There is no obvious change in the climate condition in and around Three Gorges Reservoir Area.

The Analysis and Evaluation of Three Gorges Project Climate Effect issued by China Meteorological Administration says that the widespread droughts and floods happened in Yangtze River Basin recent years are caused by abnormal atmospheric circulation and large-scale surface heat. It is lack of scientific basis to say that Three Gorges Dam is concerned to those natural disasters.

The climate simulation result indicates that the temperature in Yangtze River Basin will keep rising in the coming 20 years. That is consistent with the climatic tendency of southwest China. The precipitation and the frequency of heavy rainfall of upper reaches of Yangtze River are likely to increase. The precipitation in middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River might be decreased. It is possible that the frequency of drought will increase.

Chief of China Meteorological Administration - Zheng Guoguang said that the meteorological department will strengthen its cooperation with relevant departments to intensify the service of monitoring, forecasting and warning of the extreme climate and ensure the safe operation of Three Gorges Dam and help with the flood control and drought relief work of Yangtze River Basin.

Director of Yangtze River Irrigation Committee – Cai Qihua said that the global climate change caused the extreme weather happened frequently recent years. There was a rare drought in Chongqing and Sichuan Province in 2006. Chongqing encountered a heavy rainstorm in 2007. The middle reaches and lower reaches of Yangtze River caught a drought this year. All of the above are extreme climatic events.

The major cause of the extreme climatic events is the change of weather condition between the ground and 5500 meters above the ground. Three Gorges Dam is only 185 meters high; it couldn't go so far to influence the climate condition of the high altitude above Yangtze River.