what is cloud seeding?

Question

please just explain what it is in short terms. if i was to explain it in a casual conversation, what would i say? what are the environmental impacts, does it effect the ozone? temperature?

Answer 1

The relative humidity in a cloud already is 100 %, but the small drops of water need a "seed" to condensate at and to form bigger drops that then are heavy enough to fall down, Naturally small grains of dust work as seeds in clouds. For artificial cloud seeding silveriodide has been used, because it was thought to be more efficient. Nevertheless the results were bad, so cloud seeding was stopped almost everywhere.

Answer 2

Cloud condensation nuclei(also known as cloud seeds) are small particles about which cloud droplets coalesce.Water requires a non-gaseous surface to become liquid from a vapour stage.In the atmosphere,this surface presents itself as a tiny solid or liquid particles called cloud condensation nuclei.The concept of cloud condensation nuclei has led to the idea of cloud seeding that tries to encourage rainfall by seeding the air with condensation nuclei appropriately.Silver iodide and dry ice(frozen CO2) are the chemicals used for cloud seeding.Salt is also added as condensation nuclei.These form ideal condensation nuclei,attracting water droplets until they are large enough to fall as rain.

Answer 3

well, a while ago farmers in drought areas went in planes and seeded the clouds, to reach a relative humitidy of 100 percent so it would rain, and help their crops, it is bad for the enviornment, its like controling the weather, bad stuff!