First thanks to both Ripen and Hideo Ototake for their emails and images on this issue. I remain somewhat confused about what is going on at Tangjiashan. We know that the sluice now has flow within it – that is not in doubt. But what is happening with that flow is very hard to understand. First, let’s work out the flow rate needed to maintain a constant lake level. The …

Xinhua is now reporting that the flow through the sluice has now been delayed through the use of a 60 cm high temporary dam (see below). This is an interesting development – I wonder why they have decided to do this at this late stage. Delaying the flow has a risk associated with it as the body of water will be larger, and thus the flood is potentially more damaging. …

China Daily is today reporting that real progress is being made with the lake above Beichuan, which is now known as Tangjiashan Lake: Amid low visibility, a Russian helicopter successfully delivered a large bulldozer and other eight sets of big machineries near the swelling Tangjiashan lake, in order to dig a diverting channel to prevent a flood, said Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei. “I feel relieved this morning as …