The first digital hydrological station on the Yellow River, the second longest river in China, begins operation Saturday.

Built at Huayuankou in Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China's Henan Province, the hydrological station is expected to play a key role in forecasting flooding of the river.

The digital hydrological station has a control system for observing the river's currents and a network and information system which consists of a computer network, and systems for water level remote sensing, image monitoring and information consultation.

Last July, the Yellow River Water Conservancy Committee launched a project, known as the "Digital Yellow River," which is aimed to use computers in the analysis and study of natural phenomena occurring on the river by using remote surveying, remote sensing and global positioning systems. The "Digital Yellow River" project is also designed to give technical support to the harnessing, development and management of the Yellow River, sources said.

The Huayuankou hydrological station is the first in a series of "Digital Yellow River" projects, and is designed to forecast rainstorms between Xiaolangdi, where a major water conservation project has been built, and Huayuankou.

(China Daily June 16, 2002)