Drones prove that ‘sow’ clouds to cause rain – Perfil.com

In the desert of Nevada, USA, a team of researchers conducted the first experimental tests unmanned aircraft flying with a particular mission: to place different elements in the clouds to cause rain or to avoid it , as required at any given time and place.
in this case, the institution Desert Research Institute (DRI), dedicated to environmental study explores the use of drones to cause rain, to intervene during drought affecting the state of Nevada. It is, ultimately, to solve the problem of lack of water in the region; to explore solutions for the management of natural resources and increasing supply and water reserves of the state, explained from the institute.
“We have reached another important milestone in our efforts to reduce risks and costs in the industry cloud seeding and help mitigate natural disasters caused by drought, hail and extreme fog, “said Mike Richards, CEO of the association of American drone.
the aircraft used measures more three meters, weighs 25 kilograms and has been dubbed Savant (Sandoval Silver state Seeder) in honor of Nevada governor Brian Sandoval, driving drone industry in that state. The Savant fly autonomously to areas with clouds that fail to discharge water, at least not in that area. A once reached, the drone lights two rockets loaded with silver iodide.

Controversy. Cloud seeding is based on the idea that water molecules present in the cloud particles crystallize silver iodide, causing precipitation down. Ideally, the water will fall as rain, although depending on the weather can be precipitated in the form of snow or hail. The latter is the less desired because it can cause damage to property and crops.
Tests carried out by DRI are not without controversy. On one side the scope of the drone used in the tests, as well as its size and weight, is limited to cloud seeding. The aircraft flew for just under twenty minutes and amounted to little more than 120 meters, although the team is authorized to carry their drones to 400 meters high.
However, researchers believe the first autonomous drone flights Savant as “a success” for its ability to transport and automatically shoot flares in the place designated by climatologists.
on the other hand, the idea of ​​”seeding clouds” to cause artificial rain is quite old and instead still its effectiveness still not been proven. So far no conclusive results about the possibility of manipulating the climate applying this technique to the point of causing rain.