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China will step up weather modification in key regions to help relieve drought, the director of the China Meteorological Administration has said.

As drought and hailstorms pose severe threats to rural income and food supply, there is a rising demand for technology to cushion the impact, Zheng Guoguang told China Daily.

Weather modification technology has also been used to ensure clear skies for important events, and will possibly be used for the upcoming Shanghai World Expo.

Modifying weather involves seeding clouds with grains of dry ice or tiny particles of silver iodide to stimulate rainfall or dissipate the clouds. It is also used to prevent or control forest fires and ease acute water shortages in some areas.

Statistics for losses caused by natural disasters in recent years were not immediately available. But a chronic drought in 2007, the worst in a decade, caused losses of 37.4 million tons of grain, according to official statistics. The annual grain output is around 500 million tons.

Zheng said he expects weather modification projects will contribute to the country's efforts to increase grain production capacity by 50 million tons annually.

The technology was used to ensure clear skies for the grand parade of the National Day celebration last year, when the country marked the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China. It also was used to ensure rainless days for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Questions:

1. How do you modify the weather?

2. How will weather modification help grain production?

3. How was weather modification used for the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China?

Answers:

1. Modifying weather involves seeding clouds with grains of dry ice or tiny particles of silver iodide to stimulate rainfall or dissipate the clouds.

2. Officials say weather modification projects will contribute to the country's efforts to increase grain production capacity by 50 million tons annually.

3. Weather modification technology was used to ensure clear skies for the grand National Day parade.

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About the broadcaster:

Renee Haines is an editor and broadcaster at China Daily. Renee has more than 15 years of experience as a newspaper editor, radio station anchor and news director, news-wire service reporter and bureau chief, magazine writer, book editor and website consultant. She came to China from the United States.