Russians Approve Plan for Weather Tampering

by sara star | October 18, 2009 at 08:54 am

410 views | 74 Recommendations | 12 comments

Expect only sunny days this winter in Moscow, as they plan to experiment with cloud-seeding. This is a plan to prevent snow storms from entering the city whereby the Air Force will disperse liquid nitrogen, silver or cement particle into storm clouds before they have a chance to arrive into the city.

They expect to save at least $10 million.

Earlier reports were posted on strange cloud formation over Moscow here and here.

Moscow will blast clouds from the sky this winter to save money on snow removal, a city official said Wednesday, but the plan threatens to anger the surrounding region, which would have to cope with the extra powder.

Airborne snowfall prevention will save the city about 300 million rubles ($10.2 million) this winter, said Andrei Tsybin, head of City Hall’s department for public works and utilities. Moscow is ready to spend about 180 million rubles to disperse clouds “in the event of very big and serious snowfall,” he said at a news conference.

Mayor Yury Luzhkov is a long-time proponent of fighting clouds by spraying liquid nitrogen, silver, or cement particles into the cloud mass, which forces precipitation to fall before it can reach the capital and spoil holidays like Victory Day and City Day.

Last month, Luzhkov proposed expanding the technology to fight the snow drifts that snarl traffic every winter.

“What if we force this snow to fall beyond Moscow? The Moscow region will have more water, bigger harvests, while we will have less snow,” he said at an award ceremony for Moscow’s best-kept yard.

He said that using the Air Force to prevent massive snowfall would be three times cheaper than using the regular system of trucks and snow-melting stations.

The city approved the proposal in record time.

The Moscow Region (outside of the city) has voiced concerns.

Authorities in the Moscow Region insist that residents and ecologists should be consulted before Moscow City Hall goes ahead with plans to disperse winter clouds before they reach the Russian capital.
The Moscow Region surrounds but does not include the capital, which has decided to experiment with cloud-seeding this winter to reduce snowfall in the city.

Other strange cloud formation NP stories:

cloud tube
Rare Cloud Formation Baffles Forecasters

2 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Tomitheos

at 09:09 on October 18th, 2009

great footage, although some questioned if this video was a UFO appearance related to the recent moon activity. Overall the need to tamper and manipulate the weather doesn't surprise me with all the talk on polar ice cap ecology and global warming; with chemical trails and other weather altering methods I believe meteorology science may catapult to the forefront of a global control in the next few years.

Mritunjay

at 09:07 on October 18th, 2009

This is ridiculous!

This may create a bunch of other issues and ecological disaster.

Abnormal snow in adjoining areas may set off unknown ecological reactions there. Under or over snow will also lead to changing weather conditions affecting humans as well as flora and fauna.

On the cost part: The residents and local authorities of the nearby areas are correct in raising concerns. What about the adjoining areas? Who will remove the "extra" snow from there?

Tomitheos

at 09:28 on October 18th, 2009

I agree Mritunjay but we have already created a chain reaction of ecological disasters with our own existence in large populations, looking at possible solutions to mend the damage has the intent to not be harmful, but like I said, I agree with you, playing with nature may have an 'action reaction' side effect that can potentially build on an exponential level and may end up spinning completely out of our control.

Ninja Mayhem

at 09:37 on October 18th, 2009

Yea...If every city starts sending the snows and rains "away" all that will finally land up somewhere. So we may find someday that its snowing in poorer nations near equator! Sounds improbable with temp and present condition but who knows! :(

Barbara McPherson

at 10:03 on October 18th, 2009

Mother Nature has a way of repaying those that mess with her cycles. Cement particles in the clouds! What brain trust thought of that one? Cement dust is a potent pollutant.

158

at 10:13 on October 18th, 2009

This sounds risky,

a211423

at 10:43 on October 18th, 2009

The Moscow region will have more water, bigger harvests, while we will have less snow,”

The environmental impact "study" seems to be a quasi report/statment based on what? Sure, Moscow will have less snow and more rain, but what happens to the contiguous regions?

albertacowpoke

at 10:56 on October 18th, 2009

As one living in the country, I have real difficulties with someone changing weather patterns. We seem to throw a hissy fit when we see ecological patterns altered elsewhere, but weather manipulation is ok to stop snow removal costs?

JGMitchell

at 15:01 on October 18th, 2009

Just another example of humans trying to control things that they should have no control over.

Paschen

at 15:40 on October 18th, 2009

Playing with fire so to speak. Every action will result in a reaction and the result may be devastating in the long run.

mudricky

at 16:42 on October 18th, 2009

yeah, this is something no one tamper around with - also what gives them the right to do so.

Bluenoser (not verified)

at 17:47 on October 19th, 2009

Seem to recall from Grade 6 Science class how rain droplets form (Needed: 100% moist air at or below dew point and lots of really tiny, tiny microscopic NATURALLY-occuring particles for individual water mist to form. around). But cement powder? I envisage bags of soggy Readimix hurtling earthwards. Agreed. trying to mess with the weather (for ANY reason) is a bad idea.