Why is cloud fertilization controversial and how is it done?

Many countries in the world, such as the United States, France, Australia, and the UAE, which have seen a lot of rain in the past few days, are using “cloud fertilization” technology to stimulate rainfall.

Some may link this controversial technology to flash floods, but experts say there is actually no connection between the two events.

But the “cloud fertilization” technology, developed more than 80 years ago, is not without potential risks and could lead to “disastrous effects,” experts say.

What is “cloud fertilization”?

Researchers working at General Electric discovered a strange effect while conducting experiments on how clouds form in the laboratory. They found that when water vapor gets very cold, between -10 and -5 degrees Celsius, it doesn't necessarily form ice crystals.

However, when the researchers added a fine powder of silver iodide (a chemical used in photography), they were surprised that the water immediately froze.

This is because water vapor cannot form crystals by itself. In natural clouds, these “dense cloud cores” may be created by bacteria or tiny dust particles, but researchers have now found a way to create them artificially.

How do they fertilize clouds?

The “cloud fertilization” technique works by applying it to natural clouds, in which “silver iodide” or table salt is injected into the clouds, causing ice crystals to form rapidly, which eventually turn into snow depending on weather conditions. Or it will rain.

Johann Jacques, chief meteorologist at KISTERS, says: Cloud fertilization is done either by dropping chemicals from the ground, injecting them directly from airplanes, or launching them into the clouds using rockets.

Where is cloud fertilization used?

This technology has been used in about 50 different countries, including the UAE, which has been running an advanced cloud fertilization program since the 1990s, with about 1,000 hours of “cloud fertilization” missions per year.

The United States has a long history of “cloud fertilization” missions, beginning in 1947 with Operation Cirrus, in which the U.S. military dropped about 90 kilograms of dry ice in a storm off the coast of Florida.

Although there was no evidence that the mission was effective in changing the storm's path, some threatened to file a lawsuit against the government after the storm unexpectedly changed course.

In 2018, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado signed a cost-sharing agreement to fund cloud fertilization missions.

In Australia, cloud fertilization experiments began in 1947 and continue to this day.

China is the most active supporter of climate change technology. For years, the country's weather agency has used cloud fertilization to end droughts, fight wildfires and avoid rain during military parades.

This technology is not only used to increase rainfall, but in countries such as Spain, France and Germany it is mainly used to prevent hail.

Why is “cloud fertilization” controversial?

Many may oppose the use of cloud fertilization due to concerns about flash flooding.

But Dr. Frederic Otto, a leading climate expert from Imperial College London, explained: “Cloud fertilization cannot produce a lot of rain, the technique modifies an existing cloud and you cannot turn a small cloud into a hurricane through fertilization.”

The biggest concern, Otto added, is that “cloud fertilization” is being used as a substitute for effective action on climate change, which is the real cause of increased rainfall.

He continued: Cloud fertilization is another obvious strategy to avoid the demand to stop fossil fuels. If humans continue to burn oil, gas and coal, climate change and heavy rainfall will continue.

Source: Al-Mayadeen