This image explaining cloud seeding shows the chemical either silver iodide or dry ice being dumped onto the cloud, which then becomes a rain shower. The process shown in the upper-right is what is happening in the cloud and the process of condensation to the introduced chemicals.
Everett Griner talks about cloud seeding still being studied in today’s Agri View.
Cloud Seeding for Rain
You know, it was many years ago that farmers fought drought, and dry weather, by seeding the clouds. That is, they hired aviators to fly into what clouds existed to spray them with a designated chemical that would produce rain. It produced results, but not to an extreme.
Seeding actually produced only a slight amount of rain. In a bad drought, any amount was considered worth it. Not only that, but back then, it didn’t cost a fortune to get it done. So, why don’t we do it anymore?
Well, most likely, the product used to seed the clouds was Silver Iodide. Many people felt that Silver Iodide might possible contaminate the local environment. So, the practice declined, and finally stopped. But, the practice didn’t vanish. It would be more costly today. Researchers are still working on it. Cloud seeding is not dead.
That’s Agri View for today. I’m Everett Griner…
Image credit: Cloud seeding/by Smcnab386 (talk) (Uploads) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link