A new Federal report has revealedAmerica sucks at it.
Its not working well.
The GAO conceded theres some validity to cloud seeding, but that its almost impossible to measure its effectiveness.
A technician fits canisters containing Silver Iodide, Sodium Chloride and Potassium Chloride onto a BQ-100 Beechcraft aircraft for the cloud seeding experiment project ‘Varshadhari’ at Jakkur Airport in the Indian city of Bangalore on August 21, 2017.© Photo credit should read MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP via Getty Images
Cloud seeding may increase water availability and result in economic, environmental, and human health benefits.
However, it is difficult to evaluate the effects of cloud seeding due to limitations of effectiveness research.
Extensive federal funding of research and development, including field experimentation, followed this discovery.
©GAO graphic.
Scientists could never quite prove it worked.
Or, if it did, how effective the seeding was.
In the 1980s, the federal government slashed cloud seeding funds.
These days, most cloud seeding schemes are local affairs.
Methods and specifics of seeding differ greatly between countries and even states.
The GAO report is a list of the limitations of the tech.
Its also hard to know how much the seeding affected rainfall in a specific area.
Many previous studies of seed-based rainfall showed results that werent statistically significant.
More water in dry areas is, generally, better.
But changing the water levels in delicate and complicated ecosystems can have unintended consequences.
Silver iodine appears non-toxic in small doses, but the science is far from settled.
Silver iodide is nearly insoluble in water, the report said.
However, when it dissolves it releases a small number of silver ions.
The GAO also called out another problem with cloud seeding programs: conspiracy theories.
Government weather control has long been a feature of conspiracy theories.
This has led some lawmakers to view cloud seeding as a threat.
Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill in April that banned all forms of cloud seeding in the state.
In interviews with media, the Tennessee lawmakers said theyd taken the action toprevent chemtrailsin the skies.
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