Controlling the Weather (UPDATE)

Beijing to Use Rockets to Stop Rain for Olympics

In 2007, Trend Hunter featured the concept that Beijing would be controlling the weather during the Olympics. Despite some controversy (which is hardly new for these games), messing with mother nature will continue. So here's the update on HOW.

To assure perfect weather for the 2008 summer Olympics, Beijing will control the weather using rockets.

Their hope is that by shooting rockets with silver iodide into the air, they'll be able to disperse clouds, stopping the rain. The first use will be over the Bird's Nest stadium during the opening ceremonies. If all goes to plan, the rockets will drain the clouds of humidity for the August 8th event. Officials say there's a 47% chance of rain, and 6% for a big downpour.

"More than 100 staff at 21 stations surrounding the city will have 10 minutes' notice to fire rockets or cannons containing silver iodide at approaching clouds in the hope of making them rain before they reach the stadium," Reuters says. "Three aircraft will also be on stand-by to drop catalysts to unleash rain from the clouds."

Trend Themes
1. Weather Manipulation - The use of rockets and catalysts to control weather conditions presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the field of meteorological technology.
2. Cloud Dispersal - The technique of shooting rockets with silver iodide to disperse clouds can lead to disruptive innovation in cloud-based services and atmospheric science research.
3. Precipitation Control - The ability to control rain by shooting rockets and cannons with silver iodide provides disruptive innovation opportunities in areas such as agriculture, outdoor events, and water resource management.
Industry Implications
1. Meteorological Technology - The use of rockets and catalysts to control weather conditions can spur disruptive innovation in the meteorological technology industry, leading to advanced weather prediction and modification systems.
2. Cloud Services - The technique of shooting rockets with silver iodide to disperse clouds can disrupt the cloud services industry by offering new methodologies for cloud control and manipulation.
3. Agriculture and Water Management - The ability to control rain through silver iodide rockets and cannons provides disruptive innovation opportunities in the agriculture and water management industries, allowing for precise control of irrigation and water resources.

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