In recent days, a small-scale and short-term severe sandstorm occurred in Liangzhou District of Wuwei City and the first horse farm of Shandan Horse Breeding Farm in Gansu Province. This was the first local strong sandstorm in the Hexi Corridor area of Gansu this spring. Unlike previous years, Minqin, which is one of the most sensitive areas prone to sandstorms near these two regions, did not experience a sandstorm. Experts believe that this is related to the improvement of Minqin's ecological environment.
Qian Li, director of the Wuwei Meteorological Observatory, introduced that by analyzing the regional sandstorm data of Wuwei over the past 60 years, it was found that whenever sandstorms appeared in places like Liangzhou, Gulang, and Tianzhu, sandstorms or even severe sandstorms would also appear in Minqin.
Regarding the reason why Minqin did not experience a sandstorm this time, the meteorological department of Wuwei analyzed that apart from being somewhat related to weather and climate circulation patterns, it is also greatly related to the improvement of Minqin's ecological environment. At the end of 2007, the State Council decided and approved an investment of more than 4.7 billion yuan for comprehensive ecological management of the Shiyang River Basin where Minqin is located, aiming to curb the continuous deterioration of Minqin's ecology. With the support of the state, through the development of water-saving and efficient facility agriculture, along with closing wells and reducing farmland, and actively implementing artificial rain (snow) enhancement operations, the amount of water from the Shiyang River entering Minqin increased from less than 8 million cubic meters in 2007 to 276 million cubic meters in 2011.
Due to the increased inflow of water from the Shiyang River, Qingtu Lake in Minqin, which had dried up for 51 years, has now reappeared as a seasonal water body covering nearly 10 square kilometers. Some closed wells have become self-flowing springs, and nearly 100,000 mu of reeds in the natural restoration area of Jihe Township in Minqin are thriving.
Data from the meteorological department of Wuwei also shows that in 2011, the total atmospheric dust deposition in Minqin County was 473 tons per square kilometer, which is the lowest year in recent years. The moisture index value of the basin is between 0.0593-0.2035, indicating relatively humid climate conditions, and the desert ecological environment is the best it has been in recent years. (Reported by Zhu Guoliang)