China's capital, Beijing, recorded its heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years over the past few days as remnants of Typhoon Doksuri deluged the region, turning streets into canals where emergency crews used rubber boats to rescue stranded residents.
The city recorded 744.8 millimetres (29.3 inches) of rain, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said.
Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei were hit by severe flooding because of the record rainfall, with waters rising to dangerous levels. The rain destroyed roads and knocked out power and even pipes carrying drinking water. It flooded rivers surrounding the capital, leaving cars waterlogged, while lifting others onto bridges meant for pedestrians.
Aug 03, 2023
IIT Goa, CUNY to Collaborate on Climate Data Collection, Research
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Goa, and the City University of New York (CUNY) initiated a partnership to share weather and climate data, an endeavour aimed at promoting climate change awareness and fostering scientific research. This project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai.
The collaboration marks a strategic move towards understanding our changing climate better and taking steps to mitigate its adverse effects. The union of these two esteemed institutions could set a precedent for other universities worldwide to follow suit, leveraging data and research to combat climate change.
The initiative's first major implementation is the establishment of a weather monitoring station on the IIT-Goa campus, marking the beginning of seven such stations planned across Western India. These stations will serve as a treasure trove of data, collecting a wide range of information including regular weather metrics like temperature and humidity.
However, these stations will go beyond the norm, also tracking solar radiation, air quality, and soil moisture levels. This comprehensive data collection aims to offer a more detailed depiction of the climate than ordinary weather stations provide, thus facilitating a better understanding of climate change.