Jun 17
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian air force planes dropped a 25-kg (55-lb) sack of cement on a suburban Moscow home last week while seeding clouds to prevent rain from spoiling a holiday, Russian media said on Tuesday.
“A pack of cement used in creating … good weather in the capital region … failed to pulverize completely at high altitude and fell on the roof of a house, making a hole about 80-100 cm (2.5-3 ft),” police in Naro-Fominsk told agency RIA-Novosti.
Ahead of major public holidays the Russian Air Force often dispatches up to 12 cargo planes carrying loads of silver iodide, liquid nitrogen and cement powder to seed clouds above Moscow and empty the skies of moisture.
A spokesman for the Russian Air Force refused to comment.
June 12 was Russia Day, a patriotic holiday celebrating the country’s independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Weather specialists said the cement’s failure to turn to powder was the first hiccup in 20 years.
The homeowner was not injured, but refused an offer of 50,000 roubles ($2,100) from the air force, saying she would sue for damages and compensation for moral suffering, Interfax said. Continue reading »
Tags: cloud seeding, Russia, weather, Weather Modification
Apr 17
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - A company experimenting with ways to boost snowfall says it dropped about 23 pounds of silver iodide during airplane flights over the Wind River Range.
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The flights took place from November to March.
Weather Modification, Inc., has undertaken a 5-year weather modification study in conjunction with the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The state has provided $9 million for the program, which will be entering its fourth year.
Researchers also have been experimenting with silver iodide in southern Wyoming’s Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow ranges.
Scientists say it’s too soon to say whether the experiments have affected precipitation.
Associated Press - April 15, 2008 4:05 PM ET
Source: AP
(It may have not affected precipitation but at least it has poisoned nature. So it was a success. - The Infinite Unknown)
Tags: cloud seeding, experiments, flights, National Center for Atmospheric Research, precipitation, Scientists, Sierra Madre, silver iodide, Weather Modification, Wyoming
