Weather Modification I: What is Cloud Seeding?

In “Weather Modification I: What is Cloud Seeding?” Episode, #236, Meredith Curtis introduces weather modification, a topic that has implications for you and your future! Cloud Seeding was first tried in 1946 and has been sanctioned by the government since the 1970s. How does it work? What are the benefits? What are the complications? This topic makes for a lively family dinner table discussion.

 

 

 

 

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Show Notes

Cloud seeding impacts a large number of people, yet it is seldom discussed. So, let’s talk about it, starting with the basics.

What is Cloud Seeding?

Airplanes release a seeding agent into sub-cloud updrafts or drop the seeding agents directly into the upper regions of the clouds. This seeding agent acts as a condensation nuclei.

“Chinese scientists recently announced the results of a weather modification experiment conducted in the arid western region of Xinjiang. Using a fleet of cloud-seeding drones, the team reportedly increased rainfall by more than 4 percent across an area of more than 3,000 square miles (8,000 square kilometers) in a single day. According to the researchers, just 1 kilogram of silver iodide generated more than 70,000 cubic meters of additional precipitation, enough to fill 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools.” (Graceffo, Antonio, “The CCP’s Weather Modification Ambitions” https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/the-ccps-weather-modification-ambitions-5883068 7/13/2025. Accessed 7/19/2025.)

Cloud seeding can increase rainfall, prevent rain, or disperse fog. So, let’s do a quick review of why it rains.

What Makes it Rain?

Remember the water cycle? Water evaporates and rises in the air. As it rises, it cools and condenses into ice crystals. A condensation nuclei is needed for the water to condense. This might be dust, smoke, or salt particles.

What Seeding Agents, or Particulates, or Condensation Nuclei, are Used in Cloud Seeding?

In 1946, Vincent J. Schaefer used dry ice (solid carbon dioxide CO₂) into clouds. This created snow.

Later that same year, Bernard Vonnegut used silver iodine (Ag1) could be used for cloud seeding.

Other known seeding agents:

• Potassium Iodide (KI)
• Propane (C₃Hg)
• Calcium Carbide (CAC₂)
• Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃)
• Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
• Urea Compound (CH₄N₂O)

Dubai uses Titanium for cloud seeding.

How Does Cloud Seeding Work?

By adding condensation nuclei to clouds, cloud seeding manipulates the structure of clouds. This causes the water crystals to fall to the earth as rain.

• Static Cloud Seeding
• Dynamic Cloud Seeding
• Hygroscopic Cloud Seeding

How They Get the Condensation Nuclei into the Clouds?

Drones, rockets, and special airplanes are all used to shoot the particulates into the clouds. Canons and generators can also shoot condensation nuclei into the atmosphere, hoping it will find a cloud or targeting clouds specifically.

How Long has Cloud Seeding been Going On?

Experiments began and continued in 1946.

What Countries Use Cloud Seeding?

USA

• The USA uses Cloud Seeding. In fact, it was used in the Vietnam War.
• Next, the National Weather Modification Policy Act of 1976 – “let’s study this”.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1991 (102nd Congress 1991-1992)
• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has been issuing licenses and permits for weather modification projects for at least 20 years.
• Private businesses who use Weather Modification must notify NOAA when they are going to weather modify.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Started in the 1990s. Cloud Seeding Missions: 187 (2014), 214 (2017), 184 (2018), 247 (2019). Research, prizes, and government involvement to pursue excellence.

Dubai

More recently, Dubai has followed UAE’s example and used cloud seeding to combat water scarcity.

India

India has experimented with cloud seeding since the 1980s especially during droughts. However, many Indians object to cloud seeding because of its effectiveness and environmental impact.

Indonesia

Indonesia uses cloud seeding to prevent flooding. Indonesia used cloud seeding to fight a fire-related haze in 2015 and to reduce flooding in Jakarta in 2013.

China

China is the leader in weather modification and uses cloud seeding in all kinds of ways, even to make sure clear skies are there for important political events.

Does Cloud Seeding have Positive Potential?

The main reason to use cloud seeding is to produce more rain. This can improve crop productivity, increase vegetation cover in an area, and help farmers.

Cloud seeding can modify weather, reduce the size of hailstones, and prevent the formation of fog. Cloud seeding brings relief to places with drought. It can make arid places more suitable for living.

Does Cloud Seeding have Negative Potential?

Cloud seeding harms the environment with the chemical compounds it uses. It is very expensive. Cloud seeding can harm people and animals. For example, silver iodide can impact human health negatively.

Cloud seeding needs clouds. No clouds. No cloud seeding. Flooding is probably the biggest negative of cloud seeding and is a big problem in China and UAE.

One Final Thought

The Creation Mandate. We are called to fill and subdue the earth.

• Is weather modification part of subduing the earth?
• What about harmful effects to the environment, people, animals, and plants?
• Is the excess CO2 really from cows or it from pollution and cloud seeding?
• Is the increase in cancer a result of exorbitant amounts of particulates in the air?
• Finally, since cloud seeding impacts vast amounts of people, especially since clouds travel, should people have a say in whether we cloud seed or not?

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