Control the Rain - Cloud Seeding

Zzzt writes "The Times Online reports that Russian president Putin will assure plesant weather at the Russian St. Petersburg 300th anniversary festival by seeding clouds. They plan to shoot dry ice into the clouds to get the moisture to condense prematurely. 'Vladimir Stepanenko, head physicist of St Petersburg's Geophysics Observatory, said: 'Our aim is to empty all clouds of rain before they hit the city borders.'' There is also brief mention of other fun things Russians do with weather control."

Comments

Correcting the history

[Anonymous Coward]

"I seem to remember someone saying that the Americans attempted to use this ploy against the Vietnamese. The vietnamese, being quite good at irrigiation"

The combatants in this conflict were the Vietnamese and Americans vs the Soviet Union. Therefore, this was a ploy that the Soviets used against Vietnam and its ally America.

Re:In mother russia

[aoteoroa]

What's up with the offtopic mod? The post couldn't be more on topic. Redundant maybe because it's yet another "In Soviet Russia" joke but this time it was actually funny.

Re:Vietnam?

[Anonymous Coward]

Operation Popeye is what you are referring to. It was marginally successful. They had better luck seeding storm fronts of hurricanes that were aimed at cuba. Now they use much more sophisticated techniques, primarily atmospheric heating in front of weather fronts. First they have to introduce target chemicals so they have something better to focus directed energy on.

Re:Rain-making linked to killer flood

[retostamm]

It's also done in the US on a regular basis, regulated by the Government

Licensing:
http://www.license.state.tx.us/weath er/weathermod. htm

History:
http://twri.tamu.edu/twripubs/WtrResrc /v20n2/text- 2.html

Weather Modification Association (since 1950)
http://www.weathermodification.org/