(ORDO NEWS) — China artificially changed the weather to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party in July 2020. This is stated in a study by Tsinghua University, reports Euronews.
The Chinese government has used cloud seeding technology, in which special reagents are injected into the clouds. This method allows you to control the amount of precipitation, as well as suppress hail or fog. Using cloud seeding, the Chinese authorities achieved clear blue skies during a ceremony in Tiananmen Square.
Usually in July, Beijing has warm weather (22 to 31 degrees Celsius), but it is often cloudy. Seeding clouds is a common procedure for clearing the sky in China, and the government has spent billions of euros on it over the past 13 years since the 2008 Olympics. However, in June 2020, the process was larger and took two hours. Silver iodide was sprayed into the sky to stimulate precipitation, according to a study.
Moreover, this technology is not always used to ensure a clear sky. Seeding clouds can mitigate the effects of global warming by directly cooling the planet. This process does not affect the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Geochemist and Forbes correspondent James Konka believes that it is necessary to carry out this procedure for hundreds of years until the climate system is balanced.
Also, artificial precipitation can be beneficial in drought management. However, this procedure requires the use of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to the environment, including plants. If not properly regulated, the process can have serious consequences: for example, arid regions can face flooding.
Large-scale rain management projects in China can significantly disrupt weather conditions in other parts of the country. Former deputy director of the China Meteorological Administration, Xu Xiaofeng, says he is aware of the risks involved in such a procedure. Residents of neighboring regions have indeed suffered not only from heavy rain, but also from noise. Citizens say they saw many rockets in the sky on 30 June. One man even found debris from a rocket near his home.
Earlier in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his written address to the countries participating in the climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, pledged that China will prioritize environmental conservation. The head of state stressed that the country will accelerate the energy transition and will increase the share of renewable energy sources. Now China is one of the main pollutants of the environment and is the leader in the amount of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.
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