Harnessing the Weather
by Donovan Webster
Synopsis and resource annotations by Max Grinnell
The idea that humans can modify the weather to bring rain, alter the routes of
hurricanes, and other seemingly impossible tasks, is as old as human
civilization itself. Throughout history, different groups have believed that
these types of weather modifications could change the course of empire, affect
agricultural production, or potentially save lives.
This article by Donovan Webster from
takes a close look at some recent innovations and experiments in weather
modification. The piece begins by discussing the recent cloud seeding work done
by the North American Weather Consultants group in Utah. Cloud seeding is a
technique that involves using silver iodide in order to allow tiny water
droplets to coalesce until they are big enough to fall out of the sky. Webster
goes on to discuss the increasing interest in such experiments as of late,
especially as public policy groups and governments grow concerned in the wake of
phenomena like the 2007 summer floods in Great Britain, the 2005 hurricane
season, and other similar weather events.
Moving along, the article provides a brief history of weather modification from
the time of Leonardo da Vinci's experiments using cannonballs to stop hail to
more recent endeavors such as the U.S. military project "StormFury". This
project's goal was to weaken hurricanes by seeding their upper reaches with
silver iodide crystals that would increase the amount of ice swirling around in
the storm. As the water became ice, it would release heat, and this heat would
effectively widen the eye of the storm and subsequently decrease the strength of
The next section profiles the work of Richard Blair, who is the CEO of Barken
Fog Ops, which is a fog-abatement company in Salt Lake City. Barken Fog Ops
works to control and remove the cold fogs at Salt Lake City International
airport. His work has been tremendously successful, even if it occasionally also
The piece concludes by offering commentary from experts at the University of
Virginia and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on the ideas and current work
surrounding hurricane moderation. While most of the experts seem to agree that
computer modeling programs indicate that some type of programs are theoretically
feasible, there also remains the distinct possibility of a very real human
threat: pending litigation if the weather modification program is (or is not)
Found below is a list of useful resources that will illuminate and
enhance understanding of the topics found within this article.
The first link
take visitors to a neat site from HowStuffWorks that provides some background
details about how China has been working on a variety of cloud seeding projects.
The second link
to a great site from the Oklahoma Weather Modification Program that is designed
to help students initiate a debate on the controversy surrounding the issue of
inducing or enhancing precipitation.
Moving along, the third
leads to an exercise created by Chris Fox at Kennesaw State University
designed to introduce students to the idea that human activities can alter the
chemistry or gaseous composition of the atmosphere.
The fourth link
to an excellent online exhibit created by the American Museum of Natural History
to provide interested parties with charts, photographs, and graphs that discuss
The fifth link
whisk interested parties to the homepage of the National Hurricane Center. Here
they can take advantage of hazardous weather updates, and also look up
historical data and forecasts.
The last link
take users to a NASA website which provides some fundamental information about
how hurricanes form, intensify, and then weaken.