During the period, meteorological authorities also conducted artificial hail suppression operations, which helped reduce economic losses by about 603 billion yuan (approximately 85 billion US dollars), according to the China Meteorological Administration, cited by Xinhua.
Climate Modification Operations China's climate modification operations have provided strong support for disaster prevention and mitigation, as well as for agricultural crops, stated Cai Miao, an official from the administration.
According to official data accessed by the Noticias Argentinas agency in Beijing, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), meteorological authorities actively carried out artificial rain and snow enhancement operations, cumulatively increasing precipitation by 1,677 billion tons.
Cai noted that the country's climate modification currently covers 68% of its main grain-producing areas, 63% of key ecological function zones, and 55% of national orchards.
Ecological Improvements The climate modification operations also drove ecological improvements, as meteorological departments conduct artificial rain and snow enhancement year-round in key areas like Sanjiangyuan, the source region of the three rivers where the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers are located, contributing to a gradual increase in vegetation coverage in the region.
During the next 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), authorities will work to improve the effectiveness of climate modification operations to enhance disaster mitigation, agricultural production, ecological protection and restoration, and response to major emergencies, according to another official from the administration, Ren Zhenhe.
