China plans to begin large-scale weather control over the country. The plans of politicians and scientists are reported by the South China Morning Post.
Experts suggest starting the process of creating artificial clouds over the Tibetan Plateau. This will produce more than five billion cubic meters of water per year. The rains should fill the Yellow River basin.
The feasibility study of the project, carried out by Chinese scientists, is funded by the Qinghai Provincial Government. Weather management plans come first in the region's five-year plan.
“Between the boundary layer and the troposphere in the atmosphere, there is a stable, orderly channel for transporting water vapor called the Heavenly River,” said Wang Guantian, President of Qinghai University.
To intercept water, scientists propose using chemicals delivered to the atmosphere by missiles and aircraft. For operational control of the weather situation, supporters of the project propose to launch a special satellite into orbit.
Not all scientists agree with the plans to manipulate the weather. Climatologist Professor Luo Yong from Tsinghua University (Beijing) noted that he had never heard of the existence of the "Heavenly River". Other experts believe that by this term Wang Guangtian means a narrow flow of water vapor in the air. The scientist also questions the ability of humans to control the weather on such a scale.
Qinghai Province, located in the west of central China, is considered one of the driest in the PRC. The region is home to such large rivers as the Yangtze, Yellow River and Mekong. To combat drainage, two years ago, the Middle Kingdom began diverting water from the Yangtze to the north.