For those of us that are unaware, artificial rain is a reality. It’s called Cloud seeding. Research has been carried out on this technology for a number of decades with a variety of results.
For example in the United States Cloud Seeding has been successful in creating rain, however in China there are incidents in which its application created hailstorms rather than the obvious desired effect. Here is an exact definition from www.weathersolutions.com so that you can have a better understanding:
“Cloud seeding is the process of spreading either dry ice, or more commonly, silver iodide aerosols, into the upper part of clouds to try to stimulate the precipitation process and form rain.
Since most rainfall starts through the growth of ice crystals from super-cooled cloud droplets (droplets colder than the freezing point, 32 degrees F or zero degrees C) in the upper parts of clouds, the silver iodide particles are meant to encourage the growth of new ice particles.”
In 2010, there was a devastating drought throughout the Caribbean, which of course had negative effects on the agricultural production of the region. Do you think Cloud seeding would have been feasible? It might have been but let’s learn from the mistakes of others.
As the video indicates (follow the previous link) it is difficult to make rain. In China, the technology has had short term effects as the clouds that were ‘seeded’ were then redirected to another location by wind. Cloud seeding really is a ‘science’. Knowing this Do you really think Cloud seeding would have been feasible in the Caribbean during the drought period?
TIt has been said said that desperate times require desperate measures. The cloud seeding in the Caribbean could be a viable option in terms of effectiveness (ability to induce rain when needed) however if possible more needs to done in terms of research for issues of control and cost. Where control is concerned, mention was made that rain seeding may be attempted in one area and produces the desired result in another, therefore expertise must be developed and harnessed. Also it was learnt that the process could be pretty expensive and futher feasibiltyy studies, would have to be carried out (as much as is possible) to determine if the benefits would outweigh the cost. Additionally, comparisons could be made on the feasibilty of other methods such as desalination to combat drought. To further add the practice of water conservation should also be upheld.
[…] management. From Farming, Harvesting and Cultivating Water to creating rain via Laser beams and chemical cloud seeding! It sounds far fetched but these are technologies that exist and have been in use. Therefore I do […]