DMPQ: What is cloud seeding? What are its possible application?

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Cloud seeding is the process of spreading either dry ice, or more commonly, silver iodide aerosols, into the upper part of clouds to try to stimulate the precipitation process and form rain.

There are three cloud seeding methods–

    • Hygroscopic cloud seeding disperses salts through flares or explosives in the lower portions of clouds. The salts grow in size as water joins with them.
    • Static cloud seeding involves spreading a chemical like silver iodide into clouds. The silver iodide provides a crystal around which moisture can condense.
    • Dynamic cloud seeding aims to boost vertical air currents, which encourages more water to pass through the clouds, translating into more rain.

Application of cloud seeding:

  1. Increased precipitation
  2. Water Pollution control: Cloud seeding can help to maintain minimum summer flows of the rivers and dilute the impact of treated waste water discharges from municipalities and industries.
  3. Cloud seeding can be used as a tool to help reduce the damage caused by hailstorms and protect crop yields, homes and other property.
  4. Dispersing fog
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