US, states using cloud seeding to generate rain in west

Robert Besser
21 Mar 2023, 15:13 GMT+10

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has voted to accept a $2.4 million grant from the US Bureau of Reclamation to fund cloud seeding to irrigate the state's desert region located in other Western states.
The program will involve a weather modification method that uses airplanes and ground-based cannons to shoot silver iodide crystals into clouds.
As key reservoirs on the Colorado River have hit record low levels, cities and industries in the Western states have failed to reduce their water consumption.

DENVER, Colorado: The Southern Nevada Water Authority has voted to accept a $2.4 million grant from the US Bureau of Reclamation to fund cloud seeding to flood the Colorado River.

The program will involve a weather modification method that uses airplanes and ground-based cannons to shoot silver iodide crystals into clouds, which attract moisture to the particles that become snow and rain.

As key reservoirs on the Colorado River have hit record low levels, cities and industries in the Western states have failed to reduce their water consumption.

According to documents for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the federal funding will help upgrade manual generators to remotely operated models, and using planes to seed clouds in key parts of the Upper Colorado River Basin.

However, Rickert stressed that buying enough generators could be a challenge.

"There are not a lot of makers of cloud seeding generators. Not only do we have to make sure we can find that, but that they could make as many as we need," said Andrew Rickert, who coordinates Colorado's cloud seeding for the Colorado Water Conservation Board, as quoted by the Associated Press.

Colorado, Utah and Wyoming each spend from $1 to $1.5 million per year on cloud seeding.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kuala Lumpur Times.

More Information

30 ℃

Fair in Subang

International

Section

Elon Musk hosts video interview of Democratic candidate RFK Jr.

NEW YORK CITY, New York: In his second Twitter Spaces event for a 2024 White House candidate, Elon Musk hosted ...

Amtrak nearly at pre-COVID-19 ridership levels, says official

WASHINGTON D.C.: Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said this week that despite projected losses of $800 million for the current budget ...

US to pay $570 million to eliminate dangerous rail sites

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Biden administration has announced that it is providing grants worth $570 million to eliminate many dangerous railroad ...

No confirmation, as reports say King Charles going to France in fall

PARIS, France: According to a report by BFM TV, Britain's King Charles is considering a visit to France in September, ...

US to get tough as drone disrupts Pittsburgh airport

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Federal Aviation Administration has said that a drone sighting disrupted some flights at Pittsburgh International Airport this ...

New Oregon gun law being challenged in court case

PORTLAND, Oregon: A federal trial has begun in Portland, Oregon examining the constitutionality of a stringent gun control law approved ...

Asia

Section