With persistent drought still plaguing China, some regions have
begun squabbling over clouds.
With the help of modern technology, such as launching rockets
filled with various cloud-seeding substances, rain has fallen on
some parched areas.
But the practice has caused considerable controversy in China in
recent days, with some saying that one area's manmade rain takes
moisture that nature intended to go to another.
In central China's Henan Province, persistent drought has hit
the cities of Pingdingshan, Zhumadian, Luohe, Xuchang and Zhoukou.
Cloud seeding finally brought the residents of the five cities some
wet stuff last Saturday, but by no means equally.
In Pingdingshan, more than 100 millimeters of rain fell.
But in Zhoukou, it simply drizzled, with less than 30 mm of
rainfall measured.
Meteorologists in Zhoukou were soon accusing their counterparts
in Pingdingshan of overusing natural resources by intercepting
clouds that would have likely drifted to other places--say, like
Zhoukou.
"Some places have abused rainwater resources," said a Zhoukou
expert who asked not to be named.
The controversy over who gets access to which clouds
demonstrates that the country needs regulations on how to exploit
and utilize these resources, said Sun Boyang, a weather law expert
from the Henan Meteorological Bureau.
However, Hu Zhijin, of the Chinese Meteorological Society, said
that conditions are still not ripe for regulation.
It is still difficult for meteorologists to test the effects of
weather modification, such as determining precisely how much
rainfall has been caused by rainmaking activities, Hu
explained.
"The natural changes in the atmosphere are very fast and
complex," Hu said. "We are not yet able to observe the atmosphere
everywhere at all times, so the data we collect is not
complete."
Hu said another two decades of research may be needed in order
to draft such regulations, if it is even possible then.
The most effective way to manage rainfall is for government
entities to coordinate efforts, Hu said.
(China Daily July 14, 2004)