It is a technique focused on causing rain or snow. Its origin dates back to 1946. The person responsible was Vincent Joseph Schaefer, an American chemist and meteorologist. But how does cloud seeding work?
It was first employed in Massachusetts, USA. At that time Vincent Joseph Schaefer and his team succeeded in seeding clouds with dry ice pellets. They succeeded in producing snow. The event was the beginning of experimental meteorology and climate control.
Condensing
Since then, cloud seeding has continued to develop. It combats droughts in different parts of the world. Mexico, in its most arid regions, is no exception. Likewise, Mexico City is a place where the technique has been put into practice.
So how does cloud seeding work? It consists of the release of silver iodide into these masses of the atmosphere. The system cannot be applied to just any cloud. The selected ones must contain water below zero degrees Celsius. In this way, the moisture is condensed into droplets.
Over time, various means have been used to disperse silver iodide in clouds. The use of drones is now common. However, airplanes and rockets also figure in the task.
Increase in droughts
Great expectation is generated by cloud seeding. But scientists warn that it is neither simple nor magical. In the text published in The ConversationWilliam R. Cotton talks about this. He is professor emeritus in meteorology at Colorado State University. He states that the technique is not as promising as people would like, because the experiments require the right type of clouds. And the right temperature and wind conditions play a role.
According to the UN, the amount and duration of droughts have increased by 29% worldwide. Many countries are coping with this problem through this process. From Saudi Arabia to Mexico, induced rain becomes a possible solution.
