China has experienced continuous improvement in its air quality this year but may suffer more floating sand and dust in the coming winter and spring, officials said.
So far this year, the average concentration across the country of PM2.5-particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns that is harmful to health-stood at 28 micrograms per cubic meter, down 6.7 percent year-on-year, Liu Shusheng, a senior official with the environmental monitoring department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said at a news conference on Friday.
Following a year-on-year decrease of 8.3 percent, the country saw the average concentration drop to 33 mcg per cubic meter in 2020, according to the ministry.
Liu, however, warned of a "still grim" situation in the coming winter because of unfavorable meteorological conditions, during which the country usually suffers the worst air quality because of the consumption of coal for heating.
Precipitation in northern Asia in the winter and spring is expected to be less than in normal years, potentially causing above average frequency of floating sand and dust, he said.
But he ruled out the high possibility of heavy sandstorms in the country.
He said more frequent and stronger cold air is forecast to strike the country in a relatively cold winter, resulting in favorable meteorological conditions for the dispersal of air pollutants.