China has succeeded in creating artificial snow in the northern part of Tibet Autonomous Region for the first time, according to the local meteorological department.

Taking advantage of suitable weather conditions, the Tibet meteorological station carried out an artificial snowfall operation in Nagqu County in northern Tibet on April 10 at an altitude of about 4.500 meters.

"This proves it's possible for humans to change the weather on the world's highest plateau," said Yu Zhongshui, an engineer with the meteorological station.

Just 1 cm of snow lay on the ground after the artificial snowfall.

In human history, weather control has traditionally been reserved for ancient sky gods but, over the last sixty years, scientists have become increasingly interested in tampering with the weather, claiming that they can benefit mankind.

As well as China, countries such as the United States, Australia, Russia, Pakistan, India and Thailand have all carried out artificial rain-making projects.

The approaches involve the use of chemicals like silver iodide to precipitate rain. They may be released from aircraft, or fired from the ground as flares.

The jury is still out on the long-term effects of this kind of climate engineering, or "pluviculture".

Chuffed by the Chinese 'success', Yu said that it is considered difficult to generate artificial snow or rain in high altitude areas, because the conditions are not conducive to the formation of hydrometeors -- such as rain, snow, fog or clouds -- formed by the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere.

"Artificial precipitation can help alleviate summer droughts on the northern Tibet grasslands," Yu argued.

"It will benefit people raising livestock," he added.

However, history shows that even the most brilliant scientists often fail to see the wider ramifications of their work.

Tibet experienced a warmer winter this year. The average temperature on the plateau was 2.7 degrees higher than in normal years.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2007)