If you’re travelling around China don’t be alarmed if you see rocket launchers or anti-tank guns being fired toward the sky by farmers – they’re just trying to make some rain.
Cloud seeding was implemented ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and is part of China’s Weather Modification Program.
An army of people have been trained to use 37-millimeter anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers in a bid to ‘seed’ clouds and create much needed rain across drought affected areas.
The rockets used are fitted with a pay-load that includes silver iodide or dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) and when they hit explode condense the air and create water heavy clouds.
Many areas located in Guizhou and Hunan provinces are facing a long summer without rain this year and the preventative measure has been implemented by the Weather Modification Department.
China is one of the biggest producers of artificial rain in the world and government targets have been set at achieving 50 billion cubic meters of rainfall annually.
Apart from rockets, aircraft can also be fitted with cloud seeding devices but things have gone ever further with scientists from the University of Geneva testing out a cloud forming laser in Berlin last year.
Article source: http://www.naxaf.com/2011/08/chinese-are-using-cloud-seed-rockets-to.html
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