There’s no particular reason for my silence these last few days. I wish I could say I’ve been busy, but strictly speaking that’s not entirely true. There have been a few things to drag me away from the computer, like helping a new teacher get settled in, and there are plenty more things that should be dragging me away from the computer, but I haven’t really been as productive as I should’ve Oh well.
But checking the calendar- the traditional Chinese one, that is- I see that today is 雨水, Rain Water.
This morning started well. For some reason I was drawn to the balcony. The windows were all fogged over, but something made me open one. What greeted me was a sight for sore, drought-stricken eyes:
And let me guess… my stupid camera still thinks it’s 2005? Gotta do something about that.
Quite appropriate weather given the date on the Chinese calendar, really.
The best part is there’s more snow forecast for tomorrow.
I heard that Beijing’s clouds were seeded for this snow you got. Do you know anything about that?
If true, that sure makes the weather forecaster’s job a ton easier. “It’ll be snow for sure, people.”
I have no idea why you got held up for moderation, Josh, I’m pretty sure I’ve already approved a comment from you, and that should get you a free pass- unless, perhaps, something like your IP address changed.
I have no idea if they used cloud seeding this time around, I’ve been too lazy to read any of the articles on the subject. It wouldn’t surprise me at all, though, and I’m pretty sure they used it for last week’s rain, too.
Yup! I read in a number of places that thewy used about 3,000 rockets or something (I remember reading the figured and thinking “that’s a lot of rockets for such a small amount of precipitation”). Its the first time I have actually heard of cloud seeding being used in a real-world scenario and up till then I was certain it must be an urban legend or only a theory.. Obviously its the real deal.
Yep, cloud seeding is not new, it’s been around for decades now. My impression is that most countries gave up on it a long time ago because the results were rather dubious, but China, faced with its dire water shortage, keeps plugging away at it.