Beijing to turn to artificial measures to fight haze  

北京将试验“人工消减雾霾”

(ECNS) -- Beijing plans to take artificial measures to combat haze, the Beijing News said Tuesday, citing Vice Mayor Lin Keqing.

Measures to reduce haze include artificial precipitation and fog dispersal, said Guo Xueliang, of the China Meteorological Administration.

Artificial precipitation has a better effect on haze, but it requires the right conditions, the meteorologist said. Usually, the air flows slowly on smoggy days, which makes it harder.

In Beijing and part of Sichuan province, a freezing medium such as liquid nitrogen was tested to transform smog droplets into ice crystals, Guo said.

The meteorological department in Beijing will build more than 200 automated observation stations to improve the city's ability to release disaster warnings, the vice mayor said.

The China Meteorological Administration released a plan in November to reduce smog with artificial rain by 2015.

Local weather departments across the country will be able to intervene to create better air quality, according to the plan.