China heatwave: Yangtze at record low

China is suffering its worst heatwave on record, causing knock-on global impacts.

Record-breaking temperatures have been scorching the country since early July, after 262 weather stations tied or broke their highest temperature on record. The heatwave has lasted 68 days so far, and is still intensifying.

Over 240 cities have been forecast to see temperatures exceed 40C. Chongqing for example, saw temperatures rocket to 45C.

As consequence, the first national drought alert in nine years has been issued with China seeing its driest summer in 60 years. The Yangtze river has reached record low levels as a result, drying up to half its normal width and limiting access for cargo ships.

The heat is so severe, especially in the south-west, that all factories in the region have had to cut their power. This comes at a time when power, needed for air conditioning in particular, is critical. This is also likely to all have a knock-on effect on the global supply chain.

Sichuan for example, is one province extremely reliant on rain for energy production, with 80% of their power being hydroelectric. In central Hubei, they are also desperate for rainfall, so have begun seeding clouds, which is a type of geoengineering.

To find out more about cloud seeding, keep an eye out for an explainer piece coming soon.