16th Asian Games to ‘Eliminate’ Rain

The 16th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia, is to use cloud seeding and other scientific measures to try and eliminate rain during next year’s Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Although the duration of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games falls into the period considered the “dry season” in Southern China, there is still a certain degree of probability of precipitation.

Based on research and real-time experience of artificial rain elimination gained from hosting the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing last summer, organizers of The 16th Asian Games are formulating a Plan of Rain Reduction for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies that will be held at Guangzhou’s 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium on November 12 and 27, 2010.

Catalysis used for artificial rain elimination includes liquid nitrogen, dry ice and silver iodide. Dry ice and liquid nitrogen are considered green environmental protection catalysts which does not harm humans or the environment. Silver iodide, used in artificial rain dissipation, is far lower than the national maximum landing standard and should not have a negative impact on air, humans, water, soil, animals or plants.

As emergency safeguards measure for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, scientific rain experiments will be conducted in a limited time and limited space and are not expected to have an adverse effect on Guangzhou and the surrounding areas.

Measurements of temperature, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, atmosphere pressure and precipitation will be taken and provided every three hours during rehearsals for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Forecasts for temperature, wind direction, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, precipitation and general sky conditions will be made three to 36 hours in advance and will be released twice daily.

On-going meteorological data and weather reports during the games will be released on all major communication platforms, including the dedicated Asian Games information network INFO2010; television; radio; the internet; telephone hotlines; via fax; displayed on information screens at Games venues; via e-mail, mobile phone and SMS.

Climate analysis will include inspecting and assessing previous weather patterns and weather data in the host city and co-host cities and estimating likely weather including heavy rainfall, lightning, storms, cold temperatures and fog during the Games. This will allow appropriate measures to be taken in the event of unfavorable weather conditions, to minimize disruption to sports, Games-related events and the Torch Relay.

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