CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06530719
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: May 14, 2018
• Case Number: F-2016-00405
• Publication Date: November 17, 1978

Approved for Release: 2018/01/30 C06530719
National
1 Foreign
,� Assessment
Center
Current Intelligence
Weekly Summary.
17 November 1973
"Secret�.
-SeCret,
CG C1WS 784)46
17 November 1978
Copy
0068
Approved for Release: 2018/01/30 C06530719
Approved for Release: 2018/01/30 C06530719
The USSR and China, the two most active countries in
weather modification research, are planning significant increases
in their programs in this field.
USSR-China: Weather Modification Research
Both the USSR and China have begun
research that may lead to attempted
modification of major storms, such as
typhoons�experiments previously con-
ducted only by the US. The quality of the
Soviet research is excellent, but that of
China is difficult to judge. Computer
support for meteorological programs, in
the past deficient in both countries, is now
the focus of considerable attention.
Soviet Program
The Soviet program began in the early
1950s and is now several times larger in
funding and personnel than the US
civilian and military weather modification
research programs combined. It is broad in
scope and very competently staffed. Its
expansion and improvement are likely to
accelerate following the recent upgrading
of the Hydrometeorological Service to
state committee status.
In its early years, the Soviet program
concentrated on clearing fog and clouds
from airports and then on hail suppression.
The Soviets are currently exploring such
areas as precipitation enhancement,
thunderstorm dissipation, and lightning
suppression.
What is probably the largest Soviet
project is intended to raise the level of
Lake Sevan in Armenia by increasing
rainfall over the watershed. In addition to
standard cloud-seeding techniques, thc
Soviets will employ a novel device called a
meteotron, which uses several jet engines
to create convection currents that carry
moisture upward, creating clouds.
Experimental design and instrumenta-
tion appear to be the weakest areas of the
Soviet program and probably will receive
the greatest additional emphasis. The
employment of better statistical methods
to devise experiments and analyze the
results would help alleviate the experi-
mental design problem and improve verifi-
cation techniques. The planned purchase
of Western equipment, along with im-
provements in Soviet-designed instru-
ments, will help solve the instrumentation
problem.
In recent years, the Soviets have begun
an intensive study of typhoons, and they
may be seriously considering a typhoon-
modification project similar to the US
Project Stormfury, which was aimed at
altering hurricanes in the Atlantic. This is
the only major weather modification area
in which the Soviets have not been active.
Typhoons are not a major threat to the
USSR, but research on the modification of
these storms is of high current interest
in weather modification research and
development.
Chinese Program
Chinese experiments in weather modifi-
cation started in the late 1950s and had
become extensive by the 1970s. China
recently established a new academy that
includes the world's first known institute
devoted solely to research on artificial
weather changes, thus adding to other
indications that the Chinese plan a
significantly larger, more centralized, and
more scientifically based program.
China's new weather modification re-
search institute will be part of the new
Academy of Meteorological Sciences, and
a rcscarch program extending to 1985 was
developed at a recent national conference
on weather modification. The program
will include rainmaking, hail cloud and fog
dispersal, and typhoon moderation.
The new weather modification research
institute will have a modern cloud and fog
physics laboratory, centralizing research
previously conducted at a variety of
institutes, some under military control.
Research on typhoon modification may be
supported by ships collecting data in the
Pacific.
Early Chinese experiments in weather
modification were limited mostly to efforts
to improve weather conditions unfavorable
for agriculture. By the 1970s, Chinese
field experiments reportedly involved sev-
eral million individuals throughout the
country.
Most of these experiments have been
attempts to control or moderate drought
and hail conditions using fireworks, crude
rockets, cannon, networks of antiaircraft
artillery, and ,aircraft, including radio-
controlled model airplanes.
Chinese military aircraft and ground
units have often taken part in these
agriculturally oriented weather experi-
ments. The country's National Defense
Scientific and Technical Commission re-
portedly took over the control and funding
of all weather modification research in
1969 and has a program of research at
several military weather institutes.
The Chinese have claimed significant
successs in modifying the weather, but
they have published no supporting data
and there has been no verification by non-
Chinese experts. There has pprobably in
fact been little precise scientific control or
monitoring of the Chinese experiments.
China now appears to be planning a more
scientific approach with improved seeding
and test devices
Page 15 WEEKLY SUMMARY 17 Nov 78
Approved for Release: 2018/01/30 C06530719