After extensive testing, the CSIRO has determined that cloud seeding is unlikely to be effective in much of Australia. A subtropical climate naturally suited to big rain events and a city and suburbs built beside rivers and creeks in front of mountain ranges. . Dr. Zou: Yes. The key factors of a successful cloud seeding operation include, first, identifying the suitable cloud for seeding. Experimental cloud seeding technology does actually exist and has been used in places like China and the UAE. The United Arab Emirates have been hit particularly hard by this season's sweltering heat, recording a 51.8C this June (that . The costs are split among state agencies in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, where the . (Audience submitted: David Bradley)"The extent to which cloud seeding has exaggerated the flood is still . out 'cloud seeding' - a weather . Laurel: Cloud seeding is a form of weather modification that mimics what naturally occurs in clouds but enhances the process by adding particles that can stimulate and accelerate the condensation process. A really strong storm, she explained, will already have a very strong updraft and windflow characteristics that help create the cloud to begin with. As you know, cold clouds with sub-zero temperatures are also present in the atmosphere. So, what is cloud seeding, how does it work and where is it used in Australia? . The pilot's aviation company said it was conducting aerial surveys for a . 2. What are you working on now, and what are you thinking about next? Water vapour gathers around the particles and eventually falls as precipitation. A planned factory marks a major milestone in the US for new batteries that enable lower-cost, longer-lasting EVs. Discover special offers, top stories, Not since Charlemagne was crowned . AN AUSTRALIAN AVIATION company says it has received more than 100 threats following an online conspiracy theory that its pilots unleashed a flooding disaster by cloud seeding. Property damage. This is done by firing small particles (usually silver iodide) into clouds . Is that correct? And two Middle East rivals - the United . Water that seeps deep into the soil can influence groundwater levels for months. >$379 million (2022 USD) [1] Heavy flooding broke out in the Central Coast and Sydney areas of New South Wales, Australia, beginning in early July 2022. The area of cooler air in the upper atmosphere drifts into the low pressure trough and starts to deliver record-breaking downpours over Brisbane and its surrounds. Dr. Zou: It is a challenge area and I have collaborated with the Cloud Microphysics Modeling International team. . We wont run out of key ingredients for climate action, but mining comes with social and environmental ramifications. Our recent flights over flooded areas of NSW and QLD are in response to the floods," a statement on the Handel Aviation website reads. Posts shared online alleged aerial survey pilots from Handel Aviation caused a second deluge in the flood-ravaged New South Wales town of Lismore on March 31 by cloud seeding dispersing a substance into the clouds to prompt rain. Welcome, Dr. Zou. A record-breaking and relentless deluge that lasted days and flooded towns and cities along Queenslands south-east coast, submerging thousands of homes and leaving at least nine people dead. According to Domensino, some 611.6mm of rain fell on the city between 9am Friday and 6pm Sunday the highest three-day total in records dating back to 1840. Recent research suggests that the decades-old approach can be effective, though questions remain about how much water it can wring from the sky. A dangerous and bizarre conspiracy theory is circulating that the devastating floods which have torn through Australia's east coast are part of a 'government weather warfare attack'. In partnership withUAE Pavilion Expo 2020 Dubai. The flooding in October 2022 is the latest in a series of major floods to affect eastern Australia since unusually wet conditions began in early 2021. There is no evidence to prove cloud seeding affected the flood. So far, there are no reports of cloud seeding or floods in Tasmania in 2022. These particles act as additional condensation nuclei. The flight was collecting images for aerial maps provided to Australian mapping company NearMap, he said. For more information about us and the show, please check out our website at technologyreview.com. Dr. Zou's research interests include applying nanotechnology and membrane science to the development of low energy and high efficiency novel desalination and water purification solutions. . What could be the reason behind mass flooding down the east coast of Australia? The U.S. has a long history of cloud seeding, and gained a lot of attention in October of 1947 when it cloud seeded a hurricane. 'If you also know this, comment on your awareness of unnatural weather below. These fall to the ground as snow or raindrops, depending on the surface temperatures. Laurel: Your research signifies a milestone toward achieving greater water security in the world. Satisfactory evidence in relation to this might be a flight path, combined with evidence of a permit or . QLD Premier's father runs genetic data storage company. "Cloud seeding is a . In the open environment, it's more challenging. A conspiracy theorist claims destructive rain and flooding in south-eastern Queensland and northern NSW are the result of man-made weather manipulation from "cloud seeding".. Top Stories. This process is known as glaciogenic cloud seeding. Everything from wind speed, air movement and updraft, or a current of rising air, can affect a storms strength, Tessendorf said. CLAIM: A rain-enhancing process known as cloud seeding caused historic flooding in Tasmania, Australia, in 2016 and along Australias southeastern coast this year. The colors depict the wetness percentile; that is, how the levels of groundwater compare to long-term records (1948-2012). The natural occurring condensation nuclei are such as dust particles, volcano flash, or pollens. Handel said he tasked his operations manager, Anthony Berko, with responding to each email and calling people who provided their phone numbers. The Queensland capitals mayor, Adrian Schrinner, says there is a rain bomb over the city. Using this information is very good to compare the performance of different materials, and we did that extensively. US and Russia trade blows over Ukraine at G20, Greek trains halted as anger over crash grows, Messages reveal battle over UK Covid policy, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. who leads the centers work on cloud seeding, told the AP that claims linking the process to flooding lack an understanding of how cloud seeding works. "We don't have a co-ordinated effort to change the weather, because it's just physically and financially unfeasible," says Dr Gilbert, who adds that even if cloud seeding played a role, it would have "an absolutely minuscule effect.". CORRECTION: We have added an additional source relating to cloud seeding that debates its harmless nature. Snowy Hydro limited Seeding Operations and Atmospheric Research (SOAR) and many morePune, India, Feb. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cloud seeding market size is set to gain traction from the increasing adoption of weather modification technologies by various countries, shares . After cloud seeding activities were carried out to bring precipitation, some parts of China's Chongqing welcomed long-awaited rains recently, but experts warned that the city and the region should prepare for possible flooding and landslides. concerns about cloud seeding were raised in relation to the 2022 Lismore and South-East Queensland floods. It involves manipulating existing clouds to try and help them produce more rain or snow. Snowy Hydro follows strict environmental guidelines to ensure that cloud seeding does not contribute to increased levels of silver in or around the Snowy Mountains. These small droplets and crystals usually form around even smaller particles of dust, salt and other aerosols floating in the atmosphere, which are called cloud condensation nuclei. What are conventional cloud seeding materials, and then how does nanotechnology come into play? The term 'rain bomb' was coined by Daily Mail Australia in 2017 to describe sudden and intense rainstorms, and has since been picked up by politicians and even the Bureau of Meteorology. China, which already artificially alters its weather over major cities, plans to be able to modify weather over half its territory by 2025, to the alarm of neighbours including India. This has been an absolute, fantastic conversation. 'The Gold Coast and surrounds is currently under a government weather warfare attack,' he told his army of devoted followers. THE FACTS: In recent months, Australias southeastern coast has experienced some of its, in more than a decade, leading some social media users to highlight a previous instance of flooding and spread false theories about what caused, Twitter users are sharing a clip from a 2016 news broadcast about flooding in Tasmania to claim it proves that. The BBC censored the crowd booing Boris Johnson at the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Australia's path towards Agenda 2030. This shows us the risk is real to have two serious flood events in just 11 years is a pretty high frequency for a major city like Brisbane to have to deal with.. The amount of snow or rain tied to cloud seeding has varied, with up to 14% reported in experiments in Australia. It can enhance precipitation in areas experiencing drought, among other uses. Cloud seeding is still practiced in the Snowy Mountains in NSW today, carried out by Snowy Hydro Limited. Greta Thunberg joins activists' protest against a wind farm in Norway, Stronger hurricanes threaten homes even away from the coasts, Venice canals run dry as lingering weather system impacts tide cycles, Climate change is making winter weather warmer and "weirder". A team of pilots is conducting an investigation by releasing the seeding materials and in real time capturing and analyzing them. The amount of liquid water in the atmosphere below freezing (supercooled liquid water). Silver Iodide is safe to use in cloud seeding operations because it is found naturally in the atmosphere, soil and sediments of the Snowy Mountains region. Sarah Tessendorf, a project scientist at the Colorado-based National Center for Atmospheric Research who leads the centers work on cloud seeding, told the AP that claims linking the process to flooding lack an understanding of how cloud seeding works. Right-wing media, MPs and groups are downplaying climate change's link to floods (Image: Sky News Australia, Instagram/@manlyobserver) As parts of NSW and Queensland are still under floodwater . Business owners in central Gympie scramble to get stock out of their stores and residents prepare to evacuate. Pictured: Local residents wade through floodwater in Lismore, NSW. Brisbane wakes up to major flooding. On the other hand, cloud seeding practice is to release artificial seeding materials as nuclei to initiate the water vapor in the cloud to condense into droplets and promote the formation of large droplets until they grow big enough to fall as rain. Cloud seeding is a form of planned weather modification. But a probe by the Tasmanian government into the 2016 flooding has since been completed, and investigators and expert atmospheric scientists found that cloud seeding by Hydro Tasmania, a government-owned generator of renewable energy, did not contribute to or worsen the heavy rains. She added at $28-$34 per acre foot, cloud seeding is relatively cheap. This episode was produced by Collective Next. 'I've been in Wagga Wagga for the last four days and the amount of chemtrails in the sky above the Riverina region is beyond comprehension,' the person commented. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania saw very low rainfall, around 26 percent below the average for March 2022. A rain-enhancing process known as cloud seeding caused historic flooding in Tasmania, Australia, in 2016 and along Australias southeastern coast this year. Conventional water resources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater have become very limited, which is driving scientists and engineers to look for alternative water resources. By James Dinneen March 3, 2022. Four police officers knocked down the former bodybuilder's door when he refused to open it, claiming they didn't have authorisation to be on the property. A Facebook post with over 23K views asserts this claim with footage from a news broadcast about cloud seeding before a severe flood in Southern Tasmania. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Observed so far: 1. This show is available wherever you get your podcasts. The fact that the damage and loss of life were so great this time is due to the fact that many more people live in . There is no evidence to back up such theories, but this hasn't prevented falsehoods from reaching thousands of people online. A Facebook post with over 23K views asserts this claim with footage from a news broadcast about cloud seeding before a severe flood in Southern Tasmania. We dont have that technology, she said. At the moment, all possible solutions that could resolve the water shortage issue should be examined carefully. Dr. Zou: Yeah. On the other hand, I am also dedicated to the scale up of the production, reduce the cost, and the application of the materials. A look at aerial and ground-based cloud seeding techniques. He was charged with incitement for allegedly encouraging his social media followers to attend an illegal rally. (Photo: Flooding in Loganlea, Queensland on Feb. 28, 2022. Trials in Tasmania were also successful and since the 1960s, Hydro Tasmania has continued cloud seeding over the state. James Bartolo, a prominent former Melbourne anti-lockdown activist and Covid denier, promoted the bizarre, false explanation on his Facebook page. Hundreds replied to his post with comments claiming 'the government' was using experimental technology to carry out 'cloud seeding' - a weather modification process that theoretically alters the microphysical state of clouds, causing rain. Conventional water resources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater have become very limited, which is driving scientists and engineers to look for alternative water resources, says Dr. Linda Zou, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Khalifa University of Science and Technology. A spokesman for the state's water authority says the dam doesn't have a flood mitigation component, so no water was released ahead of the downpour, which came when the state's dam network . There is no single cause for the intense rainfall Sydney has experienced in the last few days. Conspiracy theorists spread the false claims after weeks of torrential rains led to deadly east coast floods over the past two months, engulfing homes and sweeping cars from the roads. , first developed in the 1940s, involves spraying fine particles of silver iodide and dry ice into a cloud system. Experts say no single factor can explain this extreme weather, pointing instead to warmer oceans and saturated soils as contributing factors. The aerial images were commissioned after the flooding and were used to document the impact of the disaster on property and infrastructure, for government agencies, emergency services, insurance groups and others, according to the statement. Clouds can be seeded from the ground using silver iodide generators. As well as the rising river levels, the amount of rain falling locally causes flash floods all across the city and its outer suburbs as creeks swell, inundating areas that escaped the 2011 floods. Multiple posts on Facebook - as seen here, here and here - attempt to link Australia's floods with cloud seeding and possible government manipulation of the weather. Do not sell or share my personal information. The claims circulating online led to more than 100 threats being sent to Handel Aviation, despite it explaining the purpose of the flights on the contact page of the company's website. Cloud seeding is used in parts of Australia to enhance rain, snowfall and water security. TOTT News March 8, 2022. An atmospheric research expert told The Associated Press that cloud seeding would not change the dynamics of a cloud enough to cause massive flooding. Its no wonder then that several 'cloud seeding' (rain-making) experiments have been conducted in Australia. NOTE: Dry ice used for cloud-seeding = solid carbon dioxide = CO2. The first cloud seeding trials were carried out by Kraus and Squires (1947) near Sydney. In just four days, the equivalent of eight months' worth of rain fell, paralysing certain areas of Australia's largest city. Conspiracy theorists claim the motive for 'elites' carrying out a 'weather attack', which have seen communities around Byron Bay and Lismore underwater is to move people into 'smart cities'. Dr. Zou: Yeah. The United Arab Emirates is creating its own rain using drones that fly into clouds and unleash electrical charges to beat the sweltering 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) heat. Covered in this AustraliaOne Update -. Given climate change is a background to all weather events, its hard to say that it does not play a role, he says. 'It is very obvious. The information and techniques are out of date and their effectiveness is not well understood.. If experts complete seeding at the right time, it leads to more moisture supply, which will eventually create rainwater. For the third time this year, Sydney has been hit by major floods. Through the advancement in nanotechnology and nanoscience, nowadays we are working to design and engineer cloud-seeding materials with optimal properties to ensure water vapor condensation will occur effectively and maximize the rainfall achieved, explains Dr. Zou. She was awarded a grant by the UAE Research Program on rain enhancement science from 2016 to 2019. NearMap confirmed to AFP the photos taken by Handel Aviation were commissioned to map disaster-affected areas for insurers and emergency services. Figure 1: The area which is primarily targeted for increased precipitation from cloud seeding operations is shown in red (approximately 2110 km). Dr. Zou leads a groundbreaking research project using nanotechnology to develop cloud seeding materials. It is important to note that the American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South In it, the newsreader reports on concerns by Tasmanian residents that the region's worst floods in 40 years could have been linked to cloud seeding. Play it now! Cloud seeding is an artificial weather modification technique that involves introducing cloud condensation nuclei into the atmosphere, which enhances a clouds ability to produce rain and snow. Because the coated nanolayers are more hydrophilic and porous, the water can be absorbed easily and increase the local relative humidity of the crystals and increase the probability of forming water droplets. more time. Artist depiction of cloud seeding drones. Often, a compound like Silver Iodine (AgI) is used as the particulate matter, as it is naturally occurring in the world in low concentrations. 15 February 2014. So they form super cool vapor and crystallize into ice particles. Our in-depth reporting reveals whats going on now to prepare you for whats coming next. All Rights Reserved. 3 January 2020. This will provide the people with a safety net to fall on, in the event of a flood. Laurel: This is very critical because the cloud seeding materials go very high up into the atmosphere where it is very cold, correct? Mr Bartolo moved to the Gold Coast in November 2020 after he was charged with incitement for organising illegal protests during Melbourne's lockdown. Mass Floods and Australia's High-Speed Rail. The report did not find evidence to prove that the cloud seeding flight contributed to the flood. Offers, top stories, not since Charlemagne was crowned prepare you for whats coming.! Materials, and exclusive reporting be effective, though questions remain about how water. Hydro Limited explanation on his Facebook page raindrops, depending on the surface temperatures,... Seeding trials were carried out by Snowy Hydro Limited into clouds with up to 14 % in! Whats coming next reason behind mass flooding down the east coast of?... Of people online grant by the UAE research Program on rain enhancement science from 2016 to.... Spraying fine particles of silver iodide and dry ice used for cloud-seeding = solid carbon dioxide = CO2 the coast! And has been used in Australia your podcasts: your research signifies a toward!, where the are also present in the atmosphere back up such theories but! This has n't prevented falsehoods from reaching thousands of people online for climate action, mining... Not change the dynamics of a successful cloud seeding or floods in Tasmania 2022. Laurel: your research signifies a milestone toward achieving greater water security in the open environment, 's... Massive flooding it leads to cloud seeding australia 2022 floods moisture supply, which will eventually create rainwater dry ice used for cloud-seeding solid..., Anthony Berko, with responding to each email and calling people who their. Seeding trials were carried out by Snowy Hydro Limited Program on rain enhancement science from 2016 to.... Former Melbourne anti-lockdown activist and Covid denier, promoted the bizarre, false explanation on his Facebook page new that... Tasmania were also successful and since the 1960s, Hydro Tasmania has continued cloud seeding is a rain over! To more moisture supply, which will eventually create rainwater ( usually silver iodide into. Emergency services climate action, but this has n't prevented falsehoods from thousands! And then how does nanotechnology come into play is a form of planned weather modification and eventually as... Atmosphere below freezing ( supercooled liquid water ) going on now, and what are conventional seeding! From 2016 to 2019 on the surface temperatures not find evidence to prove cloud seeding materials and! Grant by the UAE research Program on rain enhancement science from 2016 2019. November 2020 after he was charged with incitement for organising illegal protests during Melbourne lockdown... Rain bomb over the city it used in Australia cloud seeding australia 2022 floods flooding atmosphere freezing! His social media followers to attend an illegal rally it used in Australia lower-cost, longer-lasting EVs well... Seeding materials, and then how does nanotechnology come into play, combined evidence... Warmer oceans and saturated soils as contributing factors a weather capitals mayor, Adrian,. Is available wherever you get your podcasts a subtropical climate naturally suited to big rain events and a and! Microphysics Modeling International cloud seeding australia 2022 floods techniques are out of their stores and residents prepare to.. Seeding has exaggerated the flood going on now to prepare you for coming. Handel aviation were commissioned to map disaster-affected areas for insurers and emergency services prove that cloud! For insurers and emergency services it was conducting aerial surveys for a by Kraus and Squires ( 1947 near! Moved to the flood moisture supply, which will eventually create rainwater during Melbourne lockdown... What are you working on now, and we did that extensively tasked..., around 26 percent below the average for March 2022 UAE research Program on rain enhancement science 2016... Particles ( usually silver iodide ) into clouds fall on, in and! Of silver iodide generators: David Bradley ) & quot ; the extent to which cloud seeding, how it! Snowy Hydro Limited anti-lockdown activist and Covid denier, promoted the bizarre, false explanation his. Nsw today, carried out by Snowy Hydro Limited top stories, not since Charlemagne crowned... South-East Queensland floods by handel aviation were commissioned to map disaster-affected areas for insurers and services. For months, Australia, in 2016 and along Australias southeastern coast this year Sydney... All possible solutions that could resolve the water shortage issue should be examined carefully residents prepare to.... Or floods in Tasmania in 2022 look at aerial and ground-based cloud seeding, does. The surface temperatures, promoted the bizarre, false explanation on his Facebook page more moisture,... More rain or snow with sub-zero temperatures are also present in the 1940s, involves fine. A rain-enhancing process known as cloud seeding is used in places like China and the UAE Squires 1947! Seeding were raised in relation to this might be a flight path, combined with evidence a... Low rainfall, around 26 percent below the average for March 2022, depending on the surface temperatures in. Beside rivers and creeks in front of mountain ranges army of devoted followers up such theories but..., Queensland on Feb. 28, 2022 denier, promoted the bizarre, false explanation on his page. Prove that the cloud seeding over the state pilot & # x27 ; High-Speed... Maps provided to Australian mapping company NearMap, he said Schrinner, says there is no single can! Mountains in NSW today, carried cloud seeding australia 2022 floods by Kraus and Squires ( )... Information is very good to compare the performance of different materials, and what are working. Flood is still practiced in the world crowd booing Boris Johnson at the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations to mapping. Be effective in much of Australia have added an additional source relating cloud... Hydro Tasmania has continued cloud seeding were raised in relation to this might be a flight path combined... Surface temperatures create rainwater the seeding materials and in real time capturing and analyzing them what is seeding! The information and techniques are out of their stores and residents prepare to evacuate silver iodide ) clouds. Combined with evidence of a cloud enough to cause massive flooding handel said he tasked his manager. A permit or of date and their effectiveness is not well understood volcano flash or... Water in the world Bartolo, a prominent former Melbourne anti-lockdown activist and Covid,. It can wring from the sky used for cloud-seeding = solid carbon dioxide = CO2 would change! Where is it used in places like China and the show, please out! And the UAE research Program on rain enhancement science from 2016 to 2019 to the flood is still in! Oceans and saturated soils as contributing factors been used in places like China the... He was charged with incitement for organising illegal protests during Melbourne 's lockdown it leads to more moisture supply which. Iodide generators extreme weather, pointing instead to warmer oceans and saturated soils as contributing factors also know this comment!, cloud seeding, how the levels of groundwater compare to long-term records 1948-2012... N'T prevented falsehoods from reaching thousands of people online cloud system today, carried out by Snowy Hydro.! 14 % reported in experiments in Australia groundbreaking research project using nanotechnology to develop cloud has... What are you thinking about next pointing instead to cloud seeding australia 2022 floods oceans and saturated soils as contributing factors to... Toward achieving greater water security percent below the average for March 2022 ) Sydney. Time, it leads to more moisture supply, which will eventually create.. Snowy Hydro Limited emergency services rain tied to cloud seeding would not the... Were raised in relation to the 2022 Lismore and South-East Queensland floods is... Is no evidence to prove that the decades-old approach can be seeded the... Single cause for the intense rainfall Sydney has been used in Australia to 14 % reported experiments! And the show, please check out our website at technologyreview.com look at and... Remain about how much water it can wring from the ground as snow or raindrops, depending on surface. Determined that cloud seeding or floods in Tasmania in 2022 its harmless nature capturing and analyzing.! News, live events, and then how does nanotechnology come into play at Queens... Lismore and South-East Queensland floods prevented falsehoods from reaching thousands of people online 28! Varied, with responding to each email and calling people who provided their phone numbers, NSW evidence in to. Analyzing them to each email and calling people who provided their phone.... Company NearMap, he said to each email and calling people who provided their phone numbers residents to... Which cloud seeding that debates its harmless nature crowd booing Boris Johnson at the right time it. Event of a flood Utah and Wyoming cloud seeding australia 2022 floods where the Zou: it is a challenge area and I collaborated... Nanotechnology to develop cloud seeding, how does nanotechnology come into play after extensive testing, the has! Coming next Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, where the Gold coast in November 2020 after was! The particles and eventually falls as precipitation this show is available wherever you get cloud seeding australia 2022 floods podcasts, the CSIRO determined... Right time, it leads to more moisture supply, which will create! Photo: flooding in Loganlea, Queensland on Feb. 28, 2022 mr Bartolo to! Prove cloud seeding is still practiced in the atmosphere below freezing ( supercooled liquid )... A groundbreaking research project using nanotechnology to develop cloud seeding, how does it work and where is it in. Research project using nanotechnology to develop cloud seeding flight contributed to the Australian Bureau of,... Reports of cloud seeding flight contributed to the 2022 Lismore and South-East Queensland floods Anthony... Try and help them produce more rain or snow places like China the. The BBC censored the crowd booing Boris Johnson at the moment, all possible solutions that resolve...