✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers
Verified codes to save on your next trip.
Is it the sowing of clouds a viable alternative to the lack of rain in our countries? We review what it is, how it works, advantages and disadvantages in this installment.
Since in Ecuador power outages restarted, The debate “heated up” on social networks about the alternatives that could be used to solve or somewhat alleviate the lack of rain in the country's main water resources., which is precisely where the energy that moves the nation is generated mostly.
Thus, On social networks people began to talk about “sowing the clouds” so that it rains, where even some mistakenly confuse it with the chemtrails conspiracy or chemtrails that are supposedly fumigating us from commercial airplanes, but it is not the same and second repeating again, it is nothing more than water vapor that crystallizes due to low temperatures to which airplanes fly, But we are not going to delve into this today..
It does not rain, can we sow the clouds?
The drought that plagues Ecuador, Colombia and also to Venezuela has generated an unprecedented crisis, with water scarcity that affects human consumption, agriculture and energy generation. In this context, Cloud seeding has reemerged as a possible solution, generating a debate about its viability and potential impact.
The salvation to our problems said someone out there, but it's not as easy as you think.
What is cloud seeding and how does it work??
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that involves dispersing chemicals such as silver iodide into clouds., salt particles or dry ice. These substances act as condensation nuclei, around which water droplets form and then precipitate as rain or snow.
Is cloud seeding effective??
The effectiveness of cloud seeding is a mismatched and inconclusive issue.. Some studies suggest that it can increase precipitation by 10-30%, while others do not find definitive results that validate its efficiency. Effectiveness largely depends on specific weather conditions, like the temperature, humidity and the presence of air currents at the time of “sowing”.
How much does cloud seeding cost??
The cost of cloud seeding varies depending on several factors, such as the size of the area to be treated, aircraft size and operating cost, the amount of chemical used and the weather conditions.
Usually, It is estimated that it can cost between US$10 and US$200 per hectare, This will depend on all the factors that I mentioned..
Which countries apply cloud seeding??
Cloud seeding has been used in more than 50 countries around the world, including powers like the United States, United Arab Emirates, China and Russia. In Latin America, countries like Mexico, Chile and Argentina have also experimented with this technique.
Success stories:
- USA: In the decade of 1950, Cloud seeding was used to increase snowfall in the Rocky Mountains, which helped alleviate a drought in the region.
- China: On 2008, Cloud seeding was used to increase rainfall during the Beijing Olympics, with apparently successful results.
- Arab Emirates: lately, It is the country that most comments on the use of the bombing or rain stimulation technique, It even has the most modern operations center to control the planting operation. They have indicated that they have managed to increase rainfall in sectors over a 30%.
Concerns and disadvantages:
- Environmental impact: There are concerns that cloud seeding could have a negative environmental impact, such as alteration of the ecological balance or water pollution.
- it rains here, but not there: planting a cloud in place, perhaps it generated rain later when moving to another area, don't do it there anymore.
- Uncertain effectiveness: As mentioned above, the effectiveness of cloud seeding is uncertain and largely dependent on weather conditions.
- High cost: Cloud seeding can be an expensive technique that is not available to all countries.
Is cloud seeding a viable solution for South America?
Cloud seeding could be a viable option to complement other measures to mitigate drought in Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. Nevertheless, It is important to carry out rigorous scientific studies to determine its effectiveness and environmental impact before implementing it on a large scale..
The complex orography that our countries have must also be considered., with very pronounced valleys and mountains that would make it difficult for aircraft to operate in planting tasks.
Additional considerations
But this is not all, The path to achieve this is not easy and requires many actors.:
- Legal and regulatory framework: It is necessary to establish a legal and regulatory framework that regulates the implementation of cloud seeding, ensuring its responsible and sustainable use.
- Community participation: It is important to involve local communities in decision making about cloud seeding, considering your needs and concerns.
- Research and development: Investment in research and development is needed to improve cloud seeding technology and better understand its environmental impact.
In conclusion, Cloud seeding is a technique that has both advantages and disadvantages. It is important to carefully evaluate its potential to somewhat reduce the impact of less rain in our countries., but it would not be an immediate solution and much less economical, Therefore, exploring other sources of energy and alternative generation would be an additional path that should be evaluated..
nothing to see, but I share a video of airplanes:
✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers
Search here for hotels ALL over the world at the best price.
