Experts investigate in northern deserts as 3rd sandstorm hits Beijing

An expert team sent by China’s forestry and meteorological authorities has arrived in the deserts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for field research on the contributing factors for this year’s frequent sandstorms and dusty weather across northern China, as Beijing was enveloped by this year’s third round of sandstorms on Thursday.

The city was engulfed in dust and strong gales on Thursday afternoon, with muddy rain falling and thunder rolling in some parts of the capital.

The sandstorm was brought by a third Mongolian cyclone of the year, according to weather forecast. China was hit by the largest sandstorm in a decade on March 15, followed by a second one on March 28.

A joint group of experts from China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration ( NFGA) and China Meteorological Administration has arrived in the Alxa League and Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia to conduct field research.

Zhang Mingying, a Beijing- based meteorologist who used to work for Beijing meteorological bureau, told the Global Times on Thursday that the field research might be done mostly in Badain Jaran and Tengger Deserts, the two deserts in Alxa that have a great impact on the weather in Northwest and North China.

He noted that the experts seek to acquire more comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the sandstorm through a first- hand research from both forestry and meteorological perspectives.

“Sandstorms are happening more frequently this year. Experts will have a better understanding of why on earth this happened through the field research to see if it is caused by the source region of dust or other factors that affect the sandstorm weather,” he said.