National cloud-seeding lab to be launched in N China

Chinese authorities have revealed that China will establish a national cloud-seeding lab in areas around Beijing, according to the Beijing News.

The aim of launching the lab is to explore the use of weather manipulation techniques to reduce air pollution, and improve agricultural production and disaster relief work in northern parts of China.

According to the plan, a relatively complete weather modification system will be built by 2020.

The annual precipitation via cloud seeding will be increased by 60 million tones; the coverage of artificial hail suppression will be extended to more than 540,000 square kilometers.

The plan also requires distinct results of scientific experiments on the use of weather manipulation to beat pollution.