Chinese make first artificial snowfall

[bananas]

Source: Telegraph

Chinese make first artificial snowfall
By Richard Spencer in Hong Kong
Last Updated: 2:25am BST 19/04/2007

China claimed yesterday to have caused a snowfall for the first time as part of its increasingly ambitious attempts to control the weather.

<snip>

"This proves it's possible for humans to change the weather on the world's highest plateau," said Yu Zhongshui. The bureau said it had produced just under half an inch of snow at a height of 15,000ft.

<snip>

China is the world's largest practitioner of rain-seeding, a controversial procedure that involves releasing silver iodide as a catalyst into clouds either by aircraft or by firing cannon shells into them. It employs 37,000 people on the programme, which it uses to trigger rainfall principally to maximise water supply in the drought-prone north of the country, although in Beijing it is often said to be part of attempts to ensure a blue sky for major events.

Authorities have already promised to use rain-seeding before the Olympics to clear the often gloomy August skies for the opening ceremony.


Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/19/wchina19.xml

[trogdor]

1. Is this why April weather has been so weird?

It's not unusual for it to snow in April, but a foot or more in April is. Especially when it gets up to 60F 48 hours later.

[woodsprite]

2. Yeah, but it's trash. The scientists tested it and it contains melamine. n/t

[enid602]

3. seeding

I think this is why the skies in Pasadena, CA are always clear and smog-free on New Year's day.

[StarryNite]

4. I wonder

if they can make artificial bees?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. I hope so

because it looks like nobody gives a flying crap about the real ones that are going extinct. :(

[MsKandice01]

5. And yet believes in Chemtrails are considered looney...

Interesting.

[Sin]

6. Yes because they are.

O sorry that was the alien chip in my head talking not me, the M.I.B are coming to get me, HELP. Big Yak knows all.

[dbt]

7. Thank GOD for people like you, Sin!!!!1 I'm series!!1!

If not for you all, poor schmoes like me would go around believing what we see taking place in the sky!

THANK YOU FOR SAVING US FROM OUR DELUSIONS!!!!!11!

:loveya:

[StarryNite]

13. Can't help but wonder

if there is a connection.

[OhioChick]

8. Artificial Snow in China?

Can it be seen through the smog?

[w4rma]

9. Neat. Wierd though. (nt)

[nolabels]

10. Lemme guess, it's a secret recipe

http://www.framehousegallery.com/raindance.html

[Earth_First]

12. Can we go back to Nature influencing these events, please...

On the eve of Earth Day I wish that we could change our influence on Mother Earth.

I fear that within a generation the only way that my grandchildren will only be able to experience the change of seasons through man-made 'manufactured' weather.

:sigh"

[Wiley50]

14. Been Doing It in Aspen For Decades

Fan Gun Making snow seeded with flecks of dust costs more, but it saves water and energy.

* Skiing Green
In the ski resort business, everything depends on white snow. But with the impending global climate change, ski resorts are going green
"To be in business," says Patrick O'Donnell, who was Aspen's CEO and environmental conscience for a decade before retiring in November, "we rely on putting down 2 feet of good snow, good hard snow that we make the last two weeks of October and the first two weeks of November. That way, when March comes, we can still have skiing, we can still get a full rate for our lift tickets.