Is Weather Modification Real?

Picture perfect weather on your wedding day. Rain precisely when the crops need it most. Clear skies over the Olympics. Sounds like wishful thinking, right? Yet for decades, scientists have been trying to influence the weather. While some claims belong in science fiction, others might surprise you.

The Reality Behind Weather Control

Those planes you sometimes spot flying into storm clouds - they might do more than gather data. Cloud seeding programs operate in the open in many states, particularly out West where drought keeps farmers up into the wee hours (1). None of them are controlling the weather, per se, think of it more like giving nature a little nudge.

China made headlines back in 2008 for using weather modification prior to the Beijing Olympics. It wanted clear skies for the opening ceremony. Did it work? Well, it did not rain. But some scientists still debate how much those human efforts actually had to do with those clear blue skies.

Modern Attempts at Weather Modification