WX Question

BravoHotel

BravoHotel

Well-Known Member
How effective and predictable is cloud seeding? With California's desperate need of water, I have yet to hear of a program to see anything can be done to create rain fall. I am sure it is not as easy as it sounds, but with so much tied to rain fall, crops, fire season, water wells, etc. I am surprised this is not something your hear more about.
 
Typically, back when I did wx mod, we concentrated on snowfall enhancement in California. This was done for two reasons; a) increased snowfall equals more tourism especially in the Tahoe area and b) more snow means more water in the spring. More specifically it was easier to find funding for the winter projects if you could show that you were killing two birds with one stone. Further... You may not hear about it a while heap because there are a lot of Enviro-crazies who think wx mod is a method of poisoning Americans or doing damage to the environment. Chem Trails anyone? Sometimes it is just better to be low key when your cargo is a DOT explosive.

And as to it's effectiveness... My knowledge is a little dated but it varied from slightly effective to very effective.
 
Avalon781ML said:
Typically, back when I did wx mod, we concentrated on snowfall enhancement in California. This was done for two reasons; a) increased snowfall equals more tourism especially in the Tahoe area and b) more snow means more water in the spring. More specifically it was easier to find funding for the winter projects if you could show that you were killing two birds with one stone. Further... You may not hear about it a while heap because there are a lot of Enviro-crazies who think wx mod is a method of poisoning Americans or doing damage to the environment. Chem Trails anyone? Sometimes it is just better to be low key when your cargo is a DOT explosive.
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Silver Iodide?
 
That's one of the chemical compositions we used. If you could find it cheap enough locally dry ice was also pretty effective.
 
WMI is currently flying out of mcclellan airport in sacramento. I spoke with them in person last week. They have actually been flying this winter in Cali and the Tahoe areas. Unfortunately, not hiring though :(
 
Avalon781ML said:
Typically, back when I did wx mod, we concentrated on snowfall enhancement in California. This was done for two reasons; a) increased snowfall equals more tourism especially in the Tahoe area and b) more snow means more water in the spring. More specifically it was easier to find funding for the winter projects if you could show that you were killing two birds with one stone. Further... You may not hear about it a while heap because there are a lot of Enviro-crazies who think wx mod is a method of poisoning Americans or doing damage to the environment. Chem Trails anyone? Sometimes it is just better to be low key when your cargo is a DOT explosive.

And as to it's effectiveness... My knowledge is a little dated but it varied from slightly effective to very effective.
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I don't think I would lump it in with Chemtrail nuts, but it seems to me like there could be some potential for harm. Just seems a but unnatural and like someone is trying to play God lol. Has there been any research done on effects of it from either side? Just curious, thanks.
 
sweeps said:
I don't think I would lump it in with Chemtrail nuts, but it seems to me like there could be some potential for harm. Just seems a but unnatural and like someone is trying to play God lol. Has there been any research done on effects of it from either side? Just curious, thanks.
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Research as in "what happens when it rains on city A instead of city B?" Or is your question directed towards the chemicals used to achieve the results?

Addition: As far as it being "unnatural and like someone is trying to play God lol." How natural is it for us to be driving cars the expel poisonous gas?
 
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Cessnaflyer said:
Here's the MSDS for Silver Iodide. Probably not the best thing to be dropping over a lake?

http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/MSDS/MS...ch.com/catalog/product/aldrich/204404?lang=pl
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Again my info is dated but I think in terms of "parts per million" it meets safety requirements.... now the flare, itself, as a single unit probably not. Gotta remember that all of the particulate matter is not being dumped in just one area. I'm not contesting your findings in the MSDS but there are certain ingredients in Diet Coke that would make you think twice about drinking it yet the FDA says "good to go!"
 
jgheggie said:
Yes! It's weather modification inc. I live in sac...wish they were hiring.
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Without trying to defame, slander, or misrepresent a company since I haven't worked there( @Derg) I'd say WMI INC is probably the biggest WX mod company out there today with the largest amount of resources and expertise when it comes to application. Kind of like the Walmart of wx mod... they can do it all. That being said I would bet dollars to donuts that there are a few companies who perform very specific (think small niche) missions who are way more advanced than WMI INC. in those specific areas.
 
Avalon781ML said:
Again my info is dated but I think in terms of "parts per million" it meets safety requirements.... now the flare, itself, as a single unit probably not. Gotta remember that all of the particulate matter is not being dumped in just one area. I'm not contesting your findings in the MSDS but there are certain ingredients in Diet Coke that would make you think twice about drinking it yet the FDA says "good to go!"
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That's why I drink water and beer. Then again my water has fluoride in it too. Do you know when the fluoridation of water began? ;)
 
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