China’s first Institute of Weather Modification has been officially established at Chengdu University of Information Technology in Sichuan Province.
The institute aims to address climate change impacts and bolster national food security by training specialists in weather modification.
“The major was established in 2023 with an intake of 80 students,” said Yang Dingyu, the institute’s director. Students will study meteorological physics, cloud precipitation physics, and meteorological big data with artificial intelligence.
Yang highlighted the increasing role of weather modification in mitigating extreme weather and enhancing disaster prevention. “Under reasonable conditions, weather modification can achieve goals such as increasing rainfall and snowfall, preventing hail, dispersing rain, dissipating fog, and preventing frost,” he explained.
The institute boasts a strong faculty, including experts from the China Meteorological Administration. Yang stressed the need for advancements in cloud microphysics and operational equipment as extreme weather events intensify globally.