Chinese (Simplified) 
Chinese (Traditional) 
English 
French 
Alemão 
Italian 
Japanese 
Norwegian 
Spanish 
3 min read
0 comments
Groundbreaking experiment uses silver iodide and drones to increase rainfall by 4% in one of China's driest regions
Recently, the China performed a remarkable experiment of climate engineering using drones e silver iodide to induce rain in one of the most arid regions of the country, Xinjiang.
The operation, carried out by China Meteorological Administration (CMA), resulted in a artificial precipitation equivalent to 30 Olympic swimming pools, which represents a significant advance in the search for solutions to water scarcity.
Operation details
The experiment covered more than 8.000 km² in area, which is equivalent to the size of Corsica.
-
NASA confirms: the longest solar eclipse of the century will darken the planet for more than 6 minutes and leave dozens of countries in total darkness.
-
The great cosmic secret: why is the speed of light the final barrier in the universe and how does it bind us to the past?
-
New study debunks myth: Paracetamol use during pregnancy does not cause autism, confirms global review published in the BMJ.
-
Sun releases unprecedented sequence of X and M class flares: communications suffer blackouts and Earth may face geomagnetic storms.
Using medium-sized drones, CMA seeded clouds with silver iodide, a substance that has a density six times greater than that of water.
During four flights at an altitude of 5.500 meters, the drones released the compound in the form of smoke, with a dispersion rate of 0,28 grams per second, using flame rods that contained 125 grams of iodide each.
Impressive results from China
The results were remarkable, with an increase of more than 4% in local precipitation, totaling about 78.200 m³ of additional water.
This increase was corroborated by analyses carried out by supercomputers, droplet spectrometers and satellite images.
After sowing, the raindrops showed significant growth, going from 0,46 mm to 3,22 mm in diameter, in addition to a cooling of the clouds of up to 10°C and a vertical growth of 3 km.
Climate modification technologies
Since 2021, CMA has integrated a sophisticated weather modification system that combines 24 automated ground stations, satellites and drone fleets.
This three-dimensional approach allows for large-scale coverage and precision in operations, working in all seasons.
This innovation is vital for regions facing severe droughts and desertification, such as areas adjacent to the deserts of Gobi e Taklamacan, which impact the water supply of 25 million people.
China's environmental challenges and concerns
Despite technological advances, the Xinjiang experiment raises questions about the long-term environmental impacts and actual effectiveness of climate modification interventions.
The practice of cloud seeding has already been applied in other regions of the China, such as Guizhou and Sichuan, but scientists still wonder: To what extent can these techniques consistently increase rainfall? What are the possible side effects? And what would the implications be for continuous operations throughout the year?
The global race for climate solutions
The experiment carried out in China represents a milestone in the global race for man-made climate solutions.
With the simple application of silver iodide, the country demonstrates that it is possible to cause rain in regions where nature is no longer able to do so.
This innovation could open up new possibilities for combating water scarcity and desertification, offering hope to communities facing water challenges.
The use of drones in weather modification not only highlights the potential of the technology, but also underscores the importance of a careful balance between human intervention and natural processes.
As the China As progress is made in this area, the world is watching closely, looking for solutions that can be replicated in other regions affected by drought and climate change.
SOURCE: IGNBRASIL
Be the first to react!