China shooting iodide rods into sky to increase rains as Yangtze River begins to dry up

In wake of record-breaking heatwave and intense drought, China has been trying to induce rains in some parts of nation’s central and southwest areas. According to CNN report, Chinese planes are shooting rods into sky to increase rainfall as certain places of Yangtze River begin to dry up. It is worth mentioning that Asia's longest river, Yangtze, is currently at record low levels. Although some Yangtze River regions have started wear modification initiatives, several drought-stricken areas of river's basin have stayed on standby due to insufficient cloud cover. 

In dition to this, on Wednesday, Ministry of Water Resources cautioned in a notice that Yangtze River basin's drought has been negatively “affecting drinking water security of rural people and livestock, and growth of crops." Furr, Hubei province in central China announced on Wednesday that it will use 'silver iodide rods' to create clouds and induce rainfall. 

According to CNN report, silver iodide rods which are basically size of cigarettes, are fired into existing clouds to aid in formation of ice crystals. cloud is subsequently given a boost for producing rains by crystals, furr increasing amount of moisture in cloud and its likelihood of release. 

Notably, China has largest system in world and has been using cloud seeding technique since 1940s. This technique may also be used to soften hail or create snowfall. 

China is facing severe drought condition

As per Hubei's Provincial Emergency Management Department, a severe drought has afflicted nearly 4.2 million people in Hubei since month of June. Approximately 400,000 hectares of crops have been harmed by heat and drought, and over 150,000 people re have trouble getting access to drinking water, CNN reported.  

Moreover, large areas of China are experiencing unexpectedly high temperatures and a persistent drought, which are impacting agriculture output and drinking water supplies. Chinese authorities have issued alerts for temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, and many regions of nation have alrey surpassed previous records for high temperatures in 2022, Associated Press reported.  

droughts in provinces like Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Sichuan have been brought on by sustained high temperatures and a lack of precipitation since July, according to state television CCTV, which on Wednesday aired clips of dried-up soil and crops in sourn China. In meantime, temperatures in Sichuan and or regions have surpassed 40C, as per a BBC report. 

Furrmore, factories in China's southwest have closed as a result of hydropower reservoirs running low due to an intensifying drought. According to news reports published on Wednesday, businesses in Sichuan Province, including those that produce solar panels, cement, and urea, shut down or decreased output after receiving orders to ration electricity for up to five days. That happened as reservoir levels dropped and demand for electricity for air conditioning rose amid sweltering heat. 

(Image: AP/ Unsplash)