The meteorological bureau in northeast China's Liaoning Province began Thursday to offer environmental information, on freshwater, soil and atmosphere conditions, besides the traditional weather forecast.  

The bureau initiated its new monitoring system Thursday in order to scientifically evaluate the environmental conditions, including the underground water level, the amount of small sand in the air, the pollutant concentration in the atmosphere and the nutrient content in soil.

"The traditional weather forecast can not meet the people's increasing need as the environmental factors become more and more important for their lives and production," said Li Gang, an official of the bureau.

No doubt, the local residents will get more services and information from the monitoring system, he said.

The system can also offer the departments concerned a scientific foundation to help them make decisions, he added.

The system was only run in northwestern China's Qinghai Province before but will be extended to the whole country in one or two years.

(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2004)