Rainmakers: The drones used to seed clouds
Summary
Rainmaker, a company from San Francisco, used drones to release silver iodide into clouds over Alaska to try to create rain by speeding up natural cloud processes. This method, called cloud seeding, has been used for over 80 years to make rain or snow fall sooner, but it has limits and some people have concerns about its safety and effectiveness.Key Facts
- Rainmaker used drones to release silver iodide into clouds above Homer, Alaska, producing an estimated 19 million gallons of water in three hours.
- Cloud seeding works by releasing substances that help ice crystals form in clouds; these crystals eventually fall as rain or snow.
- The technology requires certain weather conditions, like cold or mountainous areas, to work well.
- Some local residents and environmental groups were not informed beforehand and worry about possible environmental impacts.
- Rainmaker states the amount of silver iodide used is very small and safe, below FDA limits.
- Cloud seeding only produces small amounts of water and cannot create rainstorms on its own.
- Over 50 countries are exploring weather modification programs using similar technology.
- Rainmaker also operates in U.S. states like Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and in water-scarce regions like Jordan.
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