China has succeeded in creating artificial snows for the first
time in the northern part of Tibet Autonomous Region, the local
meteorological department said.
The Tibet meteorological station forecast a favorable weather
change in the afternoon of April 10 and performed a successful
artificial snowfall operation in Nagqu County in northern Tibet
where the altitude is about 4.500 meters above sea level.
"The first artificial snowfall proves it's possible to change
the weather through human efforts on the world's highest plateau,"
said Yu Zhongshui, an engineer with the meteorological station.
The precipitation was measured at 2.2 mm and the accumulated
snow on the ground reached one cm after the artificial
snowfall.
"To launch artificial precipitation can help alleviate drought
on the grassland in northern Tibet," said Yu.
Tibet experienced a warmer winter this year. The average
temperature on the plateau was 2.7 degrees higher than normal
years.
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2007)
