South Korea’s attempt to fight ‘Chinese’ pollution with artificial rain fails
- They sent an aircraft into the sky to seed clouds with a rain inducing iodide, hoping the moisture would douse the fine particles and pollutants
An attempt by South Korea to create artificial rain to tackle air pollution many blame on neighbouring China has failed, the government said Monday, as it struggles to address what has become an urgent public concern.
Many South Koreans blamed China when pollution surged for three days earlier this month, and on Friday the Korea Meterological Administration (KMA) sent an aircraft to seed clouds with silver iodide in the hope of promoting rain.
The intention was for the rain to douse airborne particles and pollutants known as “fine dust” in South Korea.
However, an initial analysis of the experiment has been disappointing, KMA said in a preliminary report issued Monday.
While a weak, misty rain was detected for several minutes, the agency said, “there was no observation of significant precipitation”.
“Aside from its success or failure, the test was an opportunity to accumulate the necessary technology for a faster commercialisation of cloud seeding,” it added.
A full report is expected to be released later next month.