Regulations on the Administration of Weather Modification (revised in 2020)

Article 1 In order to strengthen the management of weather modification and prevent and mitigate meteorological disasters, these Regulations are formulated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Meteorological Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). Article 2 Whoever engages in weather modification activities within the territory of People's Republic of China (PRC) shall abide by these Regulations. Article 3 The term "weather modification" as mentioned in these Regulations refers to the activities that, in order to avoid or mitigate meteorological disasters and make rational use of climatic resources, artificially affect the physical and chemical processes of local atmosphere through scientific and technological means under appropriate conditions to achieve the purposes of increasing rain and snow, hail suppression, rain elimination, fog elimination and frost prevention. Article 4 Weather modification shall be organized, implemented, guided and managed by the competent meteorological departments under the leadership and coordination of local people's governments at or above the county level according to the scale and scope of operations. Article 5 When implementing weather modification work, a weather modification work plan shall be formulated. The work plan of weather modification shall be worked out by the relevant local competent meteorological departments in consultation with the relevant departments at the same level and implemented after being approved by the people's government at the same level.

Weather modification work carried out in accordance with the weather modification work plan approved by the relevant people's government belongs to public welfare undertakings, and the required funds are included in the financial budget of the people's government at the corresponding level. Article 6 The organization and implementation of weather modification operations shall have suitable weather and climate conditions, and give full consideration to local disaster prevention and mitigation needs and operation effects. Article 7 The State encourages and supports scientific and technological research on weather modification and promotes advanced technology.

Local people's governments at or above the county level shall organize experts to evaluate the effect of weather modification operations, and reward and punish relevant units that provide decision-making basis according to the evaluation results. Article 8 The working site for weather modification shall be determined by the competent meteorological departments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government in accordance with the local climate characteristics and geographical conditions, and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Civil Aviation Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Basic Flight Rules of the People's Republic of China, in conjunction with the relevant flight control departments. Article 9 Units engaged in weather modification operations shall meet the conditions stipulated by the competent meteorological departments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. Tenth weather modification operation units shall, in accordance with the training standards for weather modification operators formulated by the competent meteorological department of the State Council, conduct pre-job training for personnel engaged in weather modification operations. The weather modification operators shall master the relevant operation specifications and operating procedures before implementing weather modification operations.

The list of personnel engaged in weather modification by using anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers shall be copied by the local competent meteorological department to the local public security organ for the record. Eleventh anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers are used to carry out weather modification operations, and the local competent meteorological departments at or above the county level shall apply to the relevant flight control departments for airspace and operation time limit.

When using aircraft to carry out weather modification operations, the competent meteorological departments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall apply to the relevant flight control departments for airspace and operation time limit; The required aircraft shall be provided by the military or the civil aviation department in a manner determined by the supply and demand sides through consultation; Airport management agencies and relevant units shall do a good job in ensuring the work according to the weather modification work plan.

After receiving the application, the relevant flight control department shall make a decision in time and notify the applicant. Twelfth weather modification operations must be carried out within the approved airspace and operation time limit, in strict accordance with the operational norms and procedures stipulated by the competent meteorological department of the State Council, and accept the command, management and supervision of the local competent meteorological departments at or above the county level to ensure the safety of operations.

When the weather modification operation is carried out, the competent meteorological department at the place where the operation is located shall issue an announcement in advance according to the specific situation, and notify the local public security organ to do a good job in safety guarantee. Article 13 Meteorological offices and stations in the workplace shall provide timely and free meteorological observation data, information and forecasts needed for weather modification operations.

Agriculture, rural areas, water conservancy, natural resources, emergency management, forestry, grassland and other relevant departments shall provide timely and free information on disasters, hydrology, fires and other information needed for the implementation of weather modification operations. Article 14 Where it is necessary to carry out weather modification operations across provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, it shall be determined through consultation by the people's governments of the relevant provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government; If negotiation fails, it shall be determined by the competent meteorological department of the State Council in consultation with the people's governments of relevant provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. Fifteenth rocket launchers, shells and rockets used in weather modification operations shall be organized by the competent meteorological department of the State Council and the relevant departments in conjunction with the designated enterprises in accordance with the relevant mandatory technical standards and requirements of the state.

Where the equipment specified in the preceding paragraph needs to be purchased due to operation, the competent meteorological departments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall organize the procurement in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state on government procurement. Article 16 The transportation and storage of anti-aircraft guns, rockets, artillery shells and rockets used in weather modification operations shall comply with the laws and regulations of the state on the management of weapons and equipment and explosives. Shells and rockets used in weather modification operations shall be kept by the army and local people's armed forces; If transportation is needed, it shall go through the formalities with the relevant departments in accordance with the provisions of national laws and regulations on the management of weapons and explosives. Seventeenth anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers used in weather modification operations shall be inspected annually by the competent meteorological departments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government; If the annual inspection fails, it shall be overhauled immediately, and if it still fails to meet the specified technical standards and requirements after overhaul, it shall be scrapped.