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Is there a possibility that rain clouds off the coast of mainland China, in areas such as Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan, could be caused by China's artificial weather technology? Could China potentially cause rainstorms, flood and environmental issues in other areas of the world by keeping its skies clear?

Blue skies guaranteed for 2008 Olympics

The Weather Modification Office tests artificial rain for next summer's games

By: Jessic Napier, Features Editor

Posted: 8/30/07

Charles Hatfield was called San Diego's "Rainmaker." When he died in 1958, Hatfield's brother said the secret to controlling the weather apparently died with him.

Some say he is responsible for the five days of pouring rain in 1916 that washed away bridges, flooded homes and destroyed farms and ranches in San Diego.

If one weather magician could cause so much destruction in a city of approximately 75,000 people in 1920, imagine if a government tried to do such a thing in a city of more than 15 million people today.

This is exactly what will happen next year in China during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Beijing Weather Modification Office is working on technology that will guarantee perfect weather in the city during the games. Although August isn't a rainy month for Beijing, the WMO will be ready to release silver iodine and dry ice into the air to control rain that will activate rainfall before the clouds reach the city, according to People's Daily Online.

Robert Krier, The San Diego Union-Tribune's Weather Watch columnist, said that this technology is not realistic because having no rain in Beijing leaves the potential for floods somewhere else or droughts in another location.

"If you're going to be controlling the weather over one place, you're going to be controlling the weather over another place," Krier said. "The weather systems are connected all over the world. The forces they play are so massive, so to think that you can control it over a hundred square miles is delusional."

However, the WMO is focusing on keeping tourists dry rather than the environmental implications of such a decision. Zhang Qiang, head of the WMO, told Newsweek that her department is succeeding in helping Beijing get ready for the Olympics by clearing small cloud formations.

Some Chinese citizens feel differently. Ye Lin, a Chinese student volunteer for the Olympics, said that there are some things humans shouldn't change because the negative effects could be huge.

"Mankind thinks it can do everything right," Lin said. "However, they cannot do everything, especially controlling the weather."

Krier, who was editor in chief at The Daily Aztec from 1981-82, said that one should also consider the ethical and political questions that this type of technology could have in the future.

"I don't know that we are on the verge of controlling weather," Krier said. "I would say that we're not. But, who would be the one to control it? Are they going to cheat out all the poor countries that don't have the technology to control the weather?"

What is referred to as "cloud theft" has already been an issue in China. Several districts in a village in the Henan province tried to make rain, simultaneously causing one district to receive a majority of the rain, according to Newsweek. Needless to say, an argument broke out between the villagers.

Instances such as "cloud theft" in Henan could be felt on a global scale if weather-controlling technology advances.

But visitors to Beijing for the Olympics should rest assured that this is not the first time the government will control the weather. Similar technology was used during the Asian Games in Shanghai and the Giant Panda Festival in Sichuan, according to Newsweek.

Although perfect weather will help Beijing's business, Lin said the government should not be changing the climate to cater to the tourists.

"Visitors should enjoy and appreciate another facet of Beijing's beauty: the rain," Lin said.

If the WMO isn't careful, it could be facing the same situation as San Diego's rainmaker but on a larger scale.

Where San Diego's farms flooded, Beijing's streets may be destroyed.

Where San Diego's homes washed away, Beijing's high rises may be ruined.

And where San Diego's 1916 flood affected approximately 75,000, Beijing will be testing nature in a city filled with 15 million people.