Ebenezer School

Chemistry Group project

Group members no
Misikir Eyasu 32
Nuhamin Betselot 36

cloud seedling technology

For teacher abebe

Submission date
 TABLE OF CONTENT PAGE
1. Introduction
 Background on Cloud Seeding
 Purpose of the Discussion
2. Mechanism of Cloud Seeding
 Introduction of Nucleating Agents
 Ice Crystal Growth
 Precipitation Formation
3. Arguments For Cloud Seeding
 Water Resource Management
 Mitigation of Drought Conditions
 Cost-effective and Natural process
4. Arguments Against Cloud Seeding
 Environmental and Ecological Concerns
 Ethical Considerations
 Unpredictability of Results
5. Summary of Cloud Seeding
 Recap of Key Points
 Reference
Background on Cloud Seeding:
Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique, has garnered
attention as a potential tool to influence precipitation patterns
by artificially inducing rain, snow, or hail. The concept traces its
roots back to the mid-20th century when scientists began
exploring ways to enhance precipitation for various purposes,
ranging from addressing water scarcity to mitigating the impact
of drought conditions. This controversial technology involves
the introduction of substances into clouds to stimulate the
formation of ice crystals, ultimately leading to increased
precipitation.

Purpose of the Discussion:

we aim to unravel the chemistry behind cloud seeding,
providing a good understanding of its scientific basis.
Moreover, we seek to foster a balanced discussion that
considers the potential benefits and concerns associated with
intervening in the natural water cycle.
1.Introduction of Nucleating Agents:
Nucleating agents are substances introduced into clouds to provide a surface for
water vapor to condense and freeze. Silver iodide, potassium iodide, and liquid
propane are commonly employed for this purpose. These agents serve as
catalysts in the Bergeron-Findeisen process, where supercooled water droplets
freeze onto the introduced particles.

2. Ice Crystal Growth:

Once nucleation occurs, ice crystals begin to form and grow. The nucleating
agents initiate the freezing process, leading to the development of ice particles.
These ice crystals serve as the building blocks for the subsequent stages of
precipitation formation.

3. Precipitation Formation:
The enlarged ice crystals facilitate the coalescence of supercooled water droplets
within the cloud. As the particles merge, they become heavy enough to overcome
updrafts, resulting in precipitation. The type of precipitation, whether rain, snow,
or hail, is influenced by factors such as temperature and atmospheric conditions.

Process of cloud seedling

Arguments For Cloud Seeding:
Water Resource Management:
Addressing Water Scarcity: Cloud seeding offers a potential solution for regions
facing water scarcity challenges. By stimulating precipitation, it aims to provide an
additional source of water for various purposes, including agriculture and human
consumption.

Current urban water scarcity a spatial patterns of large cities in water

scarce areas

Mitigation of Drought Conditions:

Alleviating Drought Impact: During drought conditions, cloud seeding
interventions can heitigate the impact by increasing rainfall. This can be
particularly beneficial for sustaining ecosystems and supporting agricultural
activities.

Cost-effective and natural process :

Cloud seeding is often less expensive than other methods of increasing water
supply, such as building new reservoirs or desalination plants .and also Cloud
seeding mimics a natural process that occurs in the atmosphere, so it is not
considered harmful to the environment.
Arguments against cloud seedling
Environmental and Ecological Concerns:
Toxicity Concerns: The release of nucleating agents into the
environment may have ecological consequences. Potential toxicity and
the persistence of these agents in ecosystems raise environmental
concerns about the overall impact on biodiversity.

Ethical Considerations:
Human Intervention in Nature: Cloud seeding involves deliberate
human interference with natural weather patterns. This raises ethical
questions about the boundaries of human influence on the
environment and ecosystems.

Unpredictability of Results:
Variability and Uncertainty: Cloud seeding outcomes are highly variable
and dependent on atmospheric conditions. The technology's
unpredictable nature raises concerns about its reliability and
effectiveness in consistently achieving desired results. This work could
alter weather patterns in other areas. When clouds receive seeds that
encourage more rainfall in a specific area, then that activity could rob
other regions of the moisture that they’d typically receive. There are
times when this technology helps to regulate the weather locally, but it
can also change the patterns of what other people receive hundreds of
miles away. If we solve a drought problem in one region, then we might
create another one somewhere else. Artificially changing what clouds
typically do by themselves requires us to think about the equal and
opposite reaction that could happen with the choices we make in this
area.

Summary of cloud seedling

Cloud seeding, as a technology with both potential benefits and challenges,
demands a holistic evaluation. Striking a balance between addressing water
scarcity, agricultural needs, and environmental and ethical considerations is
crucial. Scientific research, public engagement, and transparent governance
play pivotal roles in determining the viability and acceptance of cloud
seeding as an intervention in the natural water cycle. As we navigate the
complexities of managing water resources, an interdisciplinary approach
that considers ecological, ethical, economic, and social dimensions is
essential to make informed and sustainable decisions regarding the
deployment of cloud seeding technology.While cloud seeding presents
potential benefits in water resource management and drought mitigation,
its environmental and ethical implications, along with the uncertainty of
results, warrant careful consideration. Ongoing research and environmental
assessments are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of cloud
seeding's impacts

References
National Weather Service. (2022). Cloud Seeding

Smith, J. (2023). Weather Modification and Its Environmental Implications.

Journal of Climate Studies

Environmental Research Foundation. (2021). Evaluating Nucleating Agents: A

Review of Current Studies. Environmental Science Reports,

United Nations Environmental Program. (2022). Sustainable Water

Management: Global Perspectives. Nairobi, Kenya: UNEP Publications.