Beijing seeds clouds to protect opening ceremony

More than 100 people and three aircraft will be on standby at the Beijing Olympics to manipulate the weather if storms threaten the opening ceremony. Staff at 21 locations around the capital will fire rockets to seed storm clouds if there is a danger...

More than 100 people and three aircraft will be on standby at the Beijing Olympics to manipulate the weather if storms threaten the opening ceremony.

Staff at 21 locations around the capital will fire rockets to seed storm clouds if there is a danger that rain would disrupt the Aug. 8 ceremony, officials said yesterday.

There is a 47 per cent probability of rain during the opening ceremony although the risk of heavy rain is only six per cent. The Games close on Aug. 24 with another ceremony.

Seeding the clouds with chemicals fired from the ground or released from aircraft would trigger rain before it reached Beijing.

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