What To Know About Cloud Seeding

A recent Texas rainstorm causing widespread flooding and fatalities has led to accusations against cloud seeding company Rainmaker Technology Corporation. The company's CEO, Augustus Doricko, has faced criticism and threats despite his assurance that his operations, conducted 130 miles away, did not contribute to the disaster. Cloud seeding involves introducing particles like silver iodide into existing clouds to encourage precipitation, not to create moisture. While this event has drawn attention to weather modification, Doricko emphasizes focusing on supporting flood victims. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation oversees cloud seeding, requiring licenses and permits for operators. Cloud seeding has a long history, being used to increase snowpack, aid drought-stricken farmland, and replenish aquifers. Rainmaker's July 2 operation in Karnes County aimed to boost aquifer levels, with the seeded clouds dissipating naturally within a few hours. The efficacy and environmental safety of cloud seeding have been subjects of ongoing research, with studies indicating minimal silver iodide dispersal and no significant negative environmental impacts. Several states, including Utah and North Dakota, have found cloud seeding to be cost-effective, yielding significant economic benefits for agriculture. It is important to distinguish cloud seeding from contrails and geoengineering, which involve different atmospheric interventions.