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Rain Control - 4/15/2008 2:33:11 AM

ownedgirlie

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This just seems so wrong:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080411/sc_nm/olympics_weather_dc&printer=1;_ylt=Atj_bNFMtj.p9nJf7JG3aoQiANEA

Operation Beijing storm: rockets target rain

Fri Apr 11, 1:41 AM ET

China is preparing an arsenal of rockets and aircraft to protect the Olympics opening ceremony from rain, hoping to disperse clouds before they can drench dignitaries at the roofless "bird's nest" stadium.

Officials believe there is a 47 percent probability of rain during the August 8 opening ceremony and a 6 percent chance of a heavy downpour and will try to drain humidity from clouds before they reach Beijing.

More than 100 staff at 21 stations surrounding the city will have 10 minutes' notice to fire rockets or cannons containing silver iodide at approaching clouds in the hope of making them rain before they reach the stadium. Three aircraft will also be on stand-by to drop catalysts to unleash rain from the clouds.

"We've worked with neighboring provinces on a contingency plan for rainstorm and other weather risks during the ceremonies," said Wang Yubin, the deputy chief of China's meteorological service assigned to the Olympics.
The government has spent $500,000 to build up Beijing's cloud seeding capacities over the last five years and authorities will conduct practice runs in June and July. It typically uses pellets of silver iodide, which is highly insoluble in water and can concentrate moisture to cause rain.

Zhang Qiang, head of Beijing's Weather Modification Office, believed her staff can fend off drizzle, but could be powerless in the face of a heavy downpour.

"I hope God will not send any storms to Beijing," she said.

(Take a look at the Countdown to Beijing blog at http://blogs.reuters.com/china)
(Reporting by Liu Zhen; editing by Dominic Whiting and Michael Perry)

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 5:39:31 AM

camille65

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Ah they've been fiddling (or trying to) with this for a long time. Many of their seeding results haven't worked out but they keep onna trying. I think it would be very very cool if there was a genuine way to shift weather, shoving rain where it needs to go and drought where that needs to go. Not just for events but for real planetary problems.

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 6:10:12 AM

firmobeisance

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"A company in the United States claims it has invented a powder that can be used to remove clouds from the sky and even stop the development of hurricanes."
" The Florida based company, Dyn-o-mat, used a military aircraft to drop four tonnes of its powder on to a developing storm cloud. The cloud disappeared from radar screens, which were monitoring the experiment."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1469610.stm

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 6:11:07 AM

Monkeyontuesday

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I wonder, is this anything like playing God? And if it is, where do we draw the line? I mean, look at life support and innoculations and all that.

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 7:12:29 AM

aviinterra

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I think this would look rather silly- bombs pointed toward a lonely black cloud. On second thought- how do they know whether or not it is a storm cloud, I mean the pollution over Beijing is pretty bad from what I heard. :)

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 7:53:24 AM

Aneirin

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quote:

ORIGINAL: aviinterra

I think this would look rather silly- bombs pointed toward a lonely black cloud. On second thought- how do they know whether or not it is a storm cloud, I mean the pollution over Beijing is pretty bad from what I heard. :)

And if it is pollution, firing rockets that cause incendiary, will that result in ignition of pollutant gases within the air, and to what undesireable effect may happen ?

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 9:10:44 AM

ownedgirlie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aneirin

quote:

ORIGINAL: aviinterra

I think this would look rather silly- bombs pointed toward a lonely black cloud. On second thought- how do they know whether or not it is a storm cloud, I mean the pollution over Beijing is pretty bad from what I heard. :)

And if it is pollution, firing rockets that cause incendiary, will that result in ignition of pollutant gases within the air, and to what undesireable effect may happen ?

"The government has spent $500,000 to build up Beijing's cloud seeding capacities over the last five years and authorities will conduct practice runs in June and July. It typically uses pellets of silver iodide, which is highly insoluble in water and can concentrate moisture to cause rain."

Exactly. Where do you think that stuff goes? What goes up, must come down. Next thing you know, the drinking water is contaminated and everyone's getting cancer.

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 9:43:54 AM

pahunkboy

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wouldnt it be easier to move it to the next day?

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 9:46:13 AM

ownedgirlie

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To reschedule the Olympics? That would cost gazillions.

It would probably be easiest to buy some freaking umbrellas and enjoy. :)

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 9:50:13 AM

pahunkboy

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amend the theme to be somehwere under the rainbow. with Dorthothy, having been in a tornado and outsourced to Shanghai. when she clicks her Chinese made plastic shoes- the heal breaks off....

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 9:54:53 AM

ownedgirlie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

amend the theme to be somehwere under the rainbow. with Dorthothy, having been in a tornado and outsourced to Shanghai. when she clicks her Chinese made plastic shoes- the heal breaks off....

ROFLMAO!!!!

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RE: Rain Control - 4/15/2008 12:20:24 PM

Aneirin

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ownedgirlie

To reschedule the Olympics? That would cost gazillions.

It would probably be easiest to buy some freaking umbrellas and enjoy. :)

Ssshhhh, don't say that, just think of the more western money the chinese would get if everyone had to buy an umbrella

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