Is Inducing Snow Safe?

It’s been a strangely white November here in Beijing, with a heavy fall of snow kicking off the month, and more snow over the last few days. As we detailed back on November 2, the initial fall was artificially induced. If China Daily is to be believed (and who wouldn’t believe China Daily?) this week’s falls are also not entirely the work of nature.

In an article entitled, “Weather is manipulated again for snow,” China Daily reports: “An official from the capital weather modification office who refused to be identified told China Daily yesterday that the second snow in Beijing was also artificially induced but refused to reveal further information.”

And the falls haven’t been light. As the China Daily report notes “Data from the National Meteorological Center (NMC) suggested yesterday's [Tuesday, November 10] snowfall in most downtown areas of the city exceeded 10 mm, the index for a snowstorm. Haidian district in northwest Beijing recorded 18.5 mm of snowfall, the heaviest in the city, according to the NMC.”

Heavy falls across north China have delayed hundreds of flights and seen major highways closed.

Several people have asked whether all this weather manipulation has potential health side effects. The jury seems to be out on that one. As this site details, the silver iodide used in cloud seeding certainly isn’t good for you, but the question is whether lacing the clouds with the stuff increases levels in the broader environment. The Wikipedia entry on Cloud Seeding has a section on health concerns. The general consensus seems to be that the effects of cloud seeding in terms of silver iodide levels are negligible. Still, given China’s environment isn’t exactly pristine, is it wise to be lobbing more chemicals into the sky?

According to this report the snow should finish today, though looking at the flakes falling past the Beijinger office window as I write this, I’m not entirely convinced.