The snowfall in Beijing since Tuesday is the result of rockets shelling the clouds with silver iodide stimulating the formation of water crystals – authorities said on Thursday. Artificial induction of precipitation was undertaken to alleviate the effects of drought, which has been ruling in at least three months 12 provinces of China. “Above 500 Charges of silver iodide the size of a cigarette were scattered in the clouds by 28 meteorological rocket launchers located in the city” – Zhang Qiang, deputy director of the Beijing Weather Modification Command Center, said. the Associated Press agency writes, China has used similar methods in the past, but the scientific evidence for their effectiveness is scarce. The Chinese government reported, that thanks to the use of silver iodide, the rain did not disturb the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. According to the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, snowfall will stop on Thursday evening. To combat snowdrifts and black ice, the city services sent over 7,5 thousand. people and 2200 vehicles.
