To cope with the recent severe drought, China has started using cloud seeding. This technique allows certain chemicals that aid rainfall to be released into the sky.
According to the BBC, Beijing is particularly focused on using the technology on the Yangtze River, the longest river in China and Asia and the third longest in the world.
China is facing the largest and most severe heat wave in six decades, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in dozens of cities. For this reason, drought has recently taken a frightening toll on China.
China’s Ministry of Water Resources announced yesterday (Wednesday) that drought is increasing across the Yangtze River Basin.
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“The drought is negatively affecting the rural population, the amount of drinking water available for livestock and the growth of crops,” the statement said.
With the cloud seeding technique, silver iodide is injected into the clouds by special airplanes. This creates tiny particles called ‘ice crystals’ or ‘ice nuclei’ in the clouds. The use of cloud seeding technology began in many countries in the 1940s.
managed to adjust the weather
A study conducted by Tsinghua University in Beijing and published last December said;
“Beijing has managed to ‘tune the weather’ to ensure clear skies ahead of the Chinese Communist Party’s 100th anniversary celebration on July 1, 2021.”
The drought, which depleted river water levels, reduced the amount of electricity generated by hydropower plants. The intense heat also led to increased demand for air conditioning in offices and homes, putting pressure on the power grid.
As a result of this power shortage, Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corporation and Contemporary Imprex Technology (Catel), the world’s largest producer of electric car batteries, were forced to close their factories in Sichuan, China.
Last Monday, the German carmaker Volkswagen announced that its factory in Chengdu, China had been affected by an electricity crisis. However, the company said there would only be a slight delay in delivering cars to customers and no further disruption.
