China’s Pollution Cuts Local Rain – BBC

From BBC News:

Pollution from China’s factories and vehicles is significantly reducing rainfall in hilly areas of the country.

Writing in the journal Science, researchers report that rainfall is reduced by about 50% in some cases. Clouds form more easily when pollutant particles are abundant, but rain droplets and snowflakes are less likely to grow large enough to fall.

Last week, other researchers reported that Asian pollution is creating stronger storms in the Pacific Ocean.[Full Text]