Article 1 Cloud Seeding in California

California Cloud Seeding

For the second straight year, California has experienced dry winter weather, leading to desperate water agencies to try to make up for the very small fall of rain using cloud seeding. By spraying fine particles of silver iodide into a cloud, scientists hope to cause water drops in the clouds to form ice crystals and turn into snowflakes, increasing the amount of precipitation. While the system has existed for decades, it has remained controversial because of doubts about its effectiveness and fears that it may cause extreme weather. Both worries that experts say are not based on the latest research. 

In a recent report, the CDWR (California Department of Water Resources) estimated that cloud seeding projects create an additional 400,000 acre-feet of water supply in the state each year. Knowing that just one acre-foot is enough water to supply a typical household for a year, they consider the projects to be very cost-effective, especially compared to more expensive projects like desalination, new dams, and conservation projects.

Over a 12 California watersheds have cloud seeding projects, many of which began operating very recently. The state is going to need all the help it can get.



Sources: https://www.dogonews.com/2014/1/26/parched-california-turns-to-science-to-create-snow 

http://science.kqed.org/quest/audio/in-dry-year-california-looks-to-cloud-seeding/