China is building the world's largest observation field on wind-sand science in Zhongwei county of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Covering an area of two square kilometers, the field will be divided into three observation areas and two experiment areas.

The observation areas will be used to monitor the movement of sand and wind, sand storms and the dynamics of wind-sand physiognomy. The experiment areas will be used for experiments of sand-prevention projects and damage of wind-sand environment.

Equipment for observation are coming gradually, said Dong Zhibao, deputy director of the key laboratory on desert and desertification under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dong added that the observation field will be put into operation at the end of this year.

Desert encroachment and sand storms are two major environmental problems perplexing northern China and the country has always listed them as key fields for research.

"China has made some development in desertification science in the past years, but our attention had been paid to prevention and curbing of the desert," said Dong. "We lagged behind in respect to basic research."

Dong attributed the situation partly to insufficient open-air observation.

"The building of the new observation station will make up for the loss in this respect," said Dong.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2004)