Related News
Air force says no rain on National Day parade
Source: Xinhua |
September 23, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE People's Liberation Army air force is taking steps to prevent rainfall and fog from dampening the country's much anticipated National Day military parade scheduled for October 1, an army officer said yesterday.
A total of 18 aircraft equipped with rain dispersing devices have been deployed in Hebei and Shanxi, said Cui Lianqing, deputy director with the meteorological bureau of the PLA air force's headquarters.
They will "spray an environmentally friendly catalyst" early on October 1 should there be a possibility of rain, Cui said.
"Based on weather records for October 1 in Beijing in the past four decades, we predict a less than 20 percent chance of rain in the capital on that day this year," Cui said.
The celebrations will feature a military parade and a mass pageant in the morning, and an outdoor evening gala in Tian'anmen Square.
In addition to rain-dispersing aircraft, 48 ground vehicles equipped with fog dispersing devices will be deployed at airports where military aircraft set to participate in the parade would take off and land.
"There are only a handful of countries in the world capable of conducting artificial weather modifications on such a scale," Cui said.
Beijing took similar action during last year's Olympic Games, when more than 1,100 rain dispersal rockets were used on the eve of the event's opening ceremony, preventing a rain belt from moving toward the National Stadium.
Cui warned, however, that there are no guarantees with the weather.
A total of 18 aircraft equipped with rain dispersing devices have been deployed in Hebei and Shanxi, said Cui Lianqing, deputy director with the meteorological bureau of the PLA air force's headquarters.
They will "spray an environmentally friendly catalyst" early on October 1 should there be a possibility of rain, Cui said.
"Based on weather records for October 1 in Beijing in the past four decades, we predict a less than 20 percent chance of rain in the capital on that day this year," Cui said.
The celebrations will feature a military parade and a mass pageant in the morning, and an outdoor evening gala in Tian'anmen Square.
In addition to rain-dispersing aircraft, 48 ground vehicles equipped with fog dispersing devices will be deployed at airports where military aircraft set to participate in the parade would take off and land.
"There are only a handful of countries in the world capable of conducting artificial weather modifications on such a scale," Cui said.
Beijing took similar action during last year's Olympic Games, when more than 1,100 rain dispersal rockets were used on the eve of the event's opening ceremony, preventing a rain belt from moving toward the National Stadium.
Cui warned, however, that there are no guarantees with the weather.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
