Science KTAL Shreveport Exploring cloud seeding: The science of weather control

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Scientists have been conducting weather modification experiments since the 1960s, but in recent years, these efforts have fueled dozens of conspiracies about population control and germ warfare.

Peter Siska, PhD., is an environmentalist and professor at LSU Shreveport, and he understands that the concept of weather modification, specifically cloud seeding, could cause controversy, but he said it is not a new practice and is necessary to combat climate change.

Cloud seeding explained

Cloud seeding is the most familiar type of weather modification, as it was used to increase snow amounts during the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and Sochi. Scientists use cloud seeding to increase precipitation by introducing silver iodide into existing clouds.

Dr. Siska explained what exactly causes precipitation. “It’s not just the presence of water vapor in clouds in the atmosphere, but we have to have nuclei. A significant amount of little microscopic particles. This could be pollen, could be salt, dust, it could be anything very small.” That very small particle, Dr. Siska said, is like an onion, with water forming around the nuclei.

The silver iodide gives water vapor something to attach to, and this process repeats until the vapor is fully formed and pulled from the cloud by gravity. A raindrop or a snowflake can not form without particulate matter for water molecules to attach to.

He said that when the atmosphere lacks the necessary nuclei, we don’t have rain, which leads scientists to try and “influence it artificially” by spraying silver iodide into the atmosphere.

“It’s a chemical that should not cause damage to human health. It doesn’t decompose. It should go through our digestive system. It should not react with additional elements in the soil or water, for example,” Siska said.

Chemicals in the air

Silver iodide is not soluble in water, so it is considered non-harmful, especially compared to other chemicals like sulfur, which is known to increase acidity in water and soil. Siska said that research dating back to the 1970s shows that increased acidification due to sulfur has significantly harmed fish.

Dr. Siska said that remnants of smoke, whether from fire or emissions from manufacturing or chemical refineries, pose a greater threat than silver iodide used to increase precipitation. He also said that many people confuse chemtrails (chemical trails) for contrails (condensation trails). Contrails, or the streaks of clouds that planes leave behind while chemtrails are remnants of chemicals emitted into the air.

“In terms of air transport, we have these contrails, and they’re a natural product of, engine combustion process. What is released is water vapor that freezes outside because it’s at a high altitude,” Siska said.

He said the white clouds left behind as planes pass overhead are not dangerous to humans and don’t significantly affect the atmosphere. In addition to condensation, Dr. Siska said carbon dioxide is being released, “That process and increasing the carbon in the atmosphere is not a good thing because, as we know, the carbon has been increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution and causes global warming.”

Be kind to the planet – we only get one

Whether you believe there is a vast conspiracy to block the sun and control the weather and population, or not, there are simple steps we can all take to reduce our personal use and preserve precious natural resources for future generations.

The biggest thing is to walk or bike instead of driving. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, cars and trucks in the U.S. emit about 23 pounds of carbon dioxide and other gases for every gallon of gas.

“If we could decrease our personal use of carbon or release of carbon into the atmosphere, we could help this plant tremendously.”

Dr. Siska said he hopes those in a position to plan for the future of Shreveport would see the value in building more sidewalks and walking and biking paths, which would encourage citizens to walk and bike more, especially for shorter trips. These small changes in city planning would also greatly improve overall health outcomes for the community.

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