China is using two massive drones to sow rain clouds in Sichuan province to try to end a devastating drought that has choked energy production and disrupted the supply chains of global giants such as Apple and Tesla.
The China Meteorological Administration launched drones in northern and southeastern Sichuan on Thursday morning, and the aircraft will eventually cover an area of ​​6,000 square kilometers in operations that will last until Monday, state-run CCTV reported.
“Seeding” works by dropping an ice-forming agent such as silver iodide into a cloud that already contains plenty of moisture. Raindrops gather around the agent, gaining weight until they begin to fall. China has a long history of using the technology to water fields, cool cities and ensure the skies are clear for events like the Olympics.
Local governments in Sichuan and Chongqing have called for blackouts to industrial facilities and households as the region grapples with heat and a severe drought that has increased air conditioning use while depleting the hydropower reserves the region depends on.
Although power restrictions in Sichuan were scheduled to end by Friday, fertilizer maker Sichuan Lutianhua said it would remain closed as a result of the ongoing heat, China Business News reported, citing the company. Honda Motor’s Chongqing plant will remain closed until this week after the local government extended electricity restrictions, the automaker said Thursday.
Temperatures in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, are expected to drop to 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday, according to the meteorological administration. Heavy rain lashed parts of the province on Thursday night, forcing officials to relocate some 30,000 people living in danger zones, state-run CCTV reported.
Source: Capital
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