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DCL
Mark Twain famously said: "Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it." If only. Profits, salaries, and the employment rate may be down but there's never a shortage of human, um...over-reaching, shall we say? Once again, we've decided to try our hand at weather modification and once again, the Chinese have taken the lead.
Attempts to manipulate the weather for the 2008 Olympics made headlines but since then, according to Chinese Meterology News, sunny skies were created for a parade to mark 60 years of communism in October and an early November weather modification effort brought unseasonable snow to Beijing and surrounding areas in the name of successfully relieving drought. The Wall Street Journal told a different story: "A massive blizzard over ... dumped some of the heaviest snow in five decades on China's usually arid north, clogging highways and collapsing buildings in seven provinces. The storm, which began Monday, had caused at least $650 million in damage as of Friday afternoon and killed more than 40 people in traffic accidents or building collapses triggered by the snow and ice, the government said."
Rather than attempt to decode yet another U.S.-China propaganda battle, I'll give you something else Mark Twain said: "It is best to read the weather forecast before praying for rain."
We're Already Modifying the Weather
Despite our technology fetish and weather obsession, a crucial reality exists: we're already modifying the weather/climate. Not by cloud seeding or other historical flubs, but through our lifestyle. For example, every time we drive, turn on our air conditioner, eat a burger, or break ground for yet another strip mall, humans are setting into motion a dangerous cycle of climate change. What we really need is for those techie types to aim their creativity and ingenuity in a more logical--read: green--direction. Until then, we each can play a smaller role by engaging in...
Weather Modification, Green-Style
- Understand the difference between climate and weather
-Rethink our transportation habits
