Cloud seeding was originally implemented in drought-stricken agricultural areas. Today’s seeding procedures use turboprop and jet aircraft that chill the air in midlevel clouds, causing bands of snow and rain to develop. Holes left behind in the clouds are called hole-punch or canal clouds, causing inadvertent cloud seeding. Recent discoveries have found aircraft propellers and jet wings produce as much chilled precipitation as cloud-seeding materials. Two years ago, Hebrew University researchers attempted to eliminate the fury of hurricanes by injecting smoke particles in the lower sections of a hurricane, causing water vapor to condense, stunting the raindrops. Raindrop formation ejects heat energy, initiating the storms’ destructive power. It would take 5 to 10 cargo planes to transport the smoke particles to attack a hurricane. Fastcast: Stormy.
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