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With 61% of the contiguous US in drought, wouldn’t it be nice if we could just “make it rain” or just “make more snow?”
Well, certain parts of the country are doing just that, sort of. It’s called cloud seeding, and it’s nothing new.
It’s been around since the 1940s and countries all over the world have been doing it for various reasons (most notably China), but it’s a growing practice in the US, especially in the drought-stricken West.
It’s also surrounded with controversy.
We spoke with Julie Gondzar who is the program manager for Wyoming’s Weather Modification Program, who admits she gets lots of calls about what they are doing.
Gondzar said some people say “you’re playing God,” others say “you are stealing moisture from the storm,” making other areas drier than they normally would be, kind of like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
There are also environmental factors to consider, as well as the cost-effectiveness versus the reward.
Wyoming started cloud seeding in 2003 as part of a study. Then eight seasons ago, they started doing it in an official capacity after their 10-year study proved it works.
This season, they have gone on 28 flight missions for cloud seeding in Wyoming.