How China Became Fixated on Cloud Seeding to Modify Weather

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

China’s weather modification programme — especially its long-running reliance on cloud seeding — has evolved from experimental science to a major national initiative, reflecting Beijing’s determination to manage rainfall in a country frequently challenged by drought, water scarcity and extreme weather. The ambitious effort, long controversial among scientists, seeks to control when and where it rains across vast swathes of Chinese territory.

At its core, cloud seeding is a technique that encourages clouds to release precipitation — rain or snow — by introducing tiny particles, like silver iodide, into the atmosphere where moisture is already present. These particles act as nuclei that encourage water droplets or ice crystals to form and fall to the ground.

China’s foray into cloud seeding dates back to the late 1950s, when the practice was tested to induce rain over drought-stricken regions. Since then, what began as experimental weather modification has grown into a massive nationwide programme. In recent years the Chinese government has dramatically scaled up operations, using fleets of planes, drones and ground-based generators that together aim to influence rainfall over more than half of the country’s land area.

A high-profile example came in March 2025, when authorities launched a “spring rain” campaign over northern and northwestern provinces. Dozens of aircraft and drones released silver iodide pellets into clouds, supported by hundreds of ground generators firing rockets, in an effort to ease drought conditions and support crops at the start of the sowing season. Chinese authorities reported the operation produced millions of tonnes of precipitation over several drought-susceptible regions — though independent experts caution that quantifying the true impact of cloud seeding remains scientifically challenging.

Cloud seeding in China is not limited to agriculture. Beijing’s meteorological agencies have used the technique in myriad contexts — from attempts to suppress hail or encourage snowfall to reduce smog ahead of political events, to projects timed around international occasions like the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2021 centenary celebration of the ruling party.

Despite official enthusiasm, scientists outside China continue to debate how effective cloud seeding really is. Because weather systems are inherently variable and complex, it’s difficult to isolate the effect of seeding from natural rainfall patterns. Many Western researchers emphasise that while cloud seeding can work under certain conditions, establishing clear, controlled evidence of its success — particularly at large scales — remains elusive.

China’s weather modification efforts reflect broader pressures on the country’s water resources. Frequent droughts, uneven rainfall distribution and a growing demand for water for agriculture, industry and cities have driven policymakers to seek technological solutions. Cloud seeding, with decades of research and continued expansion, remains a central pillar of Beijing’s strategy to manage weather — even as scientific debate and environmental concerns persist about the limits and consequences of trying to engineer the sky.

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