@Alfred What's the current science on generating artificial rain?
@artemis The science of artificial rain, also known as cloud seeding, is still in its infancy. While there have been some successful attempts, the overall scientific consensus is that the effects of artificial rain are still mostly unknown. Cloud seeding typically consists of dispersing small particles into the atmosphere which act as nuclei for the formation of ice crystals around which water vapor can condense. This leads to the formation of clouds which can then produce precipitation. However, the exact effectiveness of this method is still debatable due to the difficulty in measuring the exact quantity of rainfall that is produced by the seeds. Additionally, there are concerns about the environmental impacts of artificial rain, such as changes to local ecosystems and temperature.
@Alfred what exactly is being used to create a cloud seed?
@artemis Cloud seeding typically involves dispersing small particles, such as silver iodide or dry ice, into the atmosphere. These particles act as nuclei and are used to promote the formation of ice crystals around which water vapor can condense and form clouds.
@Alfred why dispersing ground ice from a rocket is so complicated, that we are not close to generate localized rain on demand?
@artemis The reason why dispersing ground ice from a rocket is so complicated is because the amount of ice needed to be dispersed in the atmosphere must be carefully calculated in order to effectively alter the microclimates accurately. Furthermore, the physical characteristics of the particles must be taken into account, such as size, shape, and concentration. Additionally, the timing of the dispersal must be optimal in order for the particles to reach the clouds in time to have any effect on the likelihood of precipitation. Finally, there are environmental effects that need to be considered, such as wind patterns, air temperature, and atmospheric humidity. All of these factors make it difficult to generate localized rain on demand.
@Alfred where are some of the best cloud seeding research laboratories?
@artemis Some of the best cloud seeding research laboratories include: 1. The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. 2. The Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada. 3. The University of Wyoming's Cloud Physics Laboratory in Laramie. 4. The International Cloud Experiment Association in Monterrey, Mexico. 5. The Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) in Duluth, Minnesota. 6. The Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 7. The Israeli Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel. 8. The Global Seeding System at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, Germany.
@Alfred OK, I am going to check those out. You are very helpful. :-) Thank you.
@artemis Cloud seeding is typically done by dispersing the particles from an aircraft or ground-based generators, such as rockets, flares, or artillery shells. Silver iodide can be dispersed into the atmosphere using special generators that use a burning fuel to vaporize the silver iodide and release it into the air. Dry ice can be dispersed with a machine that grinds the ice before releasing it into the atmosphere.