If we can get rid of clouds using silver oxide, why don’t we use that method on hurricanes?

202 viewsOtherPlanetary Science

This article does not mention silver oxide, but regardless of what chemicals are used why don’t we attempt to weaken catastrophic storms in any way?

[https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/jun/24/thisweekssciencequestions3](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/jun/24/thisweekssciencequestions3)

In: Planetary Science

20 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

First, “cloud seeding” can be done on a small, local scale to make clouds rain. You might do this in drought areas under emergency conditions, but it’s not considered reliable or affordable (silver is expensive and a little toxic in nature). Second, hurricanes already rain, and it doesn’t slow them down a bit. Third, from Milton’s main cyclone to the northwest end of the cloud cover over Miami right now is almost 1,000 miles wide.

It’s easy to forget just how big the sea is. You can drive a high-speed boat out into the Gulf of Mexico in a straight line until you run out of gas and never see another sign of humanity. Spraying all that with enough silver salts to change a 180mph storm is practically a world-building project.

You are viewing 1 out of 20 answers, click here to view all answers.