Regulations on Administration of Weather Modification (2020 Revision)

Regulations on Administration of Weather Modification (2020 Revision)

(Promulgated by the Order No.348 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on March 19, 2002; and revised in accordance with the Decision of the State Council to Amend and Repeal Certain Administrative Regulations on March 27, 2020)

Article 1 These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China for the purpose of strengthening the administration of weather modification, and preparing against and mitigating meteorological disasters.

Article 2 Weather modification activities carried out in the territory of the People's Republic of China shall be in conformity with these Regulations.

Article 3 For the purpose of these Regulations, "weather modification" refers to the activities carried out for rain or snow enhancement, hail suppression, rain suppression, fog dispersal, or frost protection by exerting, under appropriate conditions, artificial influence on local atmospheric physical and chemical processes through scientific and technological means, so as to mitigate or avert meteorological disasters and properly exploit climatic resources.

Article 4 The competent meteorological departments shall, in light of the scale and impact of weather modification operations, arrange for the implementation of, direct and administer such operations under the leadership and coordination of local people's governments at or above the county levels in places where such activities are carried out.

Article 5 Work plans for weather modification shall be made for conducting activities in this field. Work plans for weather modification shall be prepared by local competent meteorological departments concerned in consultation with relevant departments at the corresponding levels, and be implemented after submission to and approval by the people's governments at the same levels.
Weather modification conducted under work plans for weather modification approved by the people's governments concerned is of public welfare, and expenses required therefor shall be included into the budgets of the people's governments at the corresponding levels.

Article 6 Weather modification operations shall be implemented under appropriate weather and climatic conditions, while local needs for preparing against and mitigating disasters and results of such operations shall be taken into full account.

Article 7 The State encourages and supports scientific and technological research of weather modification and extended application of advanced technologies thereof.
Local people's governments at or above the county levels shall organize experts to evaluate the effects of weather modification operations, and grant awards to or impose penalties upon relevant units providing basis for decision-making based on the evaluation.

Article 8 Sites for weather modification operations shall be determined by the competent meteorological departments of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government jointly with the relevant flight control departments in light of local climatic features and geographical conditions and in accordance with the Civil Aviation Law of the People's Republic of China and the General Flight Rules of the People's Republic of China.

Article 9 Units engaged in weather modification operations shall meet the qualification requirements defined by the competent meteorological departments of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government.

Article 10 An entity engaged in weather modification operations shall provide pre-service training for the personnel engaged in weather modification operations according to the training standards for weather modification operators developed by the meteorological department of the State Council. Weather modification ope......