by James Lyons-Weiler, PhD, Popular Rationalism, ©2024
(Oct. 10, 2024) — So You Want to Learn Geoengineering? An Introduction to Weather Manipulation and Climate Control for Curious and Skeptical Public.
NB: Whether you think Helene was made worse, or guided, on it 500-mile path of destruction is up to your assessment of the evidence. In this article, we’ll review the history of geoengineering. We know of no evidence supporting or contradicting that weather modification played a role in Helene’s severity or path. We hope that providing some facts with a bit of perspective on the mishandling of public skepticism might help people refocus on helping those in need. For now, we’ll leave space mirrors to Bill Gates (the RAND Corporation article mentions them).
Geoengineering is not a conspiracy theory—it is a scientifically researched and government-backed field aimed at combating climate change and modifying weather. From cloud seeding to reflective aerosols, geoengineering methods have been explored for decades by credible scientific bodies like NOAA and NASA (RAND; Westcott, 2011). However, because of the potential global impact and the ethical complexities involved, the public deserves 100% transparency regarding these technologies. This is not just about academic or governmental decisions; geoengineering could affect everyone, so the public must stay informed and engaged. Without transparency and oversight, these powerful tools could lead to unintended consequences or, worse, be used without broad societal consent. All must share the future of the planet’s climate and the responsibility for its stewardship.
A Brief History of Weather Manipulation
If you have ever wondered whether humans can control the weather, you are not alone. Weather manipulation, also known as geoengineering, is a very real and controversial field. It involves intentional interventions in atmospheric processes to alter weather patterns, mitigate disasters, or address climate change. The history of weather manipulation is filled with massive-scale experiments, some of which have resulted in significant scientific discoveries, while others were met with failure—or worse, unintended consequences.
Project Cirrus and Project Stormfury
Weather modification is not a recent concept. Efforts began in earnest after World War II when scientists and governments began exploring ways to manage natural disasters like hurricanes or droughts. One of the earliest projects was Project Cirrus in 1947, in which the U.S. government attempted to weaken a hurricane by dropping 80 kilograms of dry ice into its swirling clouds. Instead of dissipating, the storm redirected and caused over $2 million in damages in Georgia (Earth Magazine; RAND). Though controversial, this early experiment sparked a series of projects exploring ways to manipulate weather more effectively.
Another notable project was Project Stormfury (1962-1983), where researchers tried to reduce the strength of hurricanes by seeding them with silver iodide. Although some success was reported—winds reduced by up to 30% on certain days—the results were inconsistent, and ultimately, the project was deemed ineffective (AOML). Nevertheless, the lessons learned from these early trials were used to find more refined methods in geoengineering.
Read the rest here.