Worldwide Weather Modification Projects

KNOWN WEATHER MODIFICATION PROJECTS

Inactive & Active

Project Cirrus - USA - 1947-Unknown -  The first hurricane modification project was run jointly by G.E., Army Signal Corp, US Air Force, and the Office of Naval Research on a hurricane that had been heading out to sea. The experiment involved dropping 180 pounds of dry ice by airplane into the rain bands of the hurricane, in an effort to weaken the system. The storm changed directions and ended up hitting Savannah Georgia, public outcry and several lawsuits forced the cancellation of the program shortly after.

Project Cumulus - EUROPE - 1949-1952 -  A weather modification project run by the UK Government, possibly with the help of the Royal Air Force. In an Air Ministry meeting they highlighted what motivated them into pursuing weather modification with the following: 1. Hindering the enemy.  2. Changing rivers to their advantage during conflicts.  3. Clearing fog from airfields. The 1952 Lynmouth flood is thought to be one of the reasons for its closure.

National Hurricane Research Project - USA - 1955-1964 - What started out as a project that conducted more weather research and measurements rather than experimentation and modification, during the early 60s the NHRP was involved with Project Stormfury. They helped seed at least one hurricane in 1963, and shortly thereafter changed names. (Renamed Project Next).

National Hurricane Research Laboratory (Renamed Project) - USA - 1964-Present - While the NHRL boasts a mission of only studying hurricanes to make better forecasts, it was involved with several weather modification projects over the years. Most of the people who worked on weather modification programs in it's previous forms were sent to other agencies after Project Stormfury was cancelled. In recent years they have conducted flights through hurricanes, although it is not known if they seeded the hurricanes as well.

Project BATON - USA - 1962-1971 - Working jointly with Project Stormfury, this division handled the science behind thunderstorms and modification of thunderstorms by releasing condensation chemicals and than dry ice to form ice crystals within the clouds in an effort to both study and modify them.

Project Stormfury - USA - 1962-1983 - A tropical cyclone modification operation conducted on storms by releasing silver iodide by cloud seeding methods. The hypothesis was later deemed incorrect as they found there wasn't enough supercooled water in a tropical storm for the silver iodide to attach to. It is however credited with providing valuable research data into hurricane tracking and forecasting.

Project Skywater - USA -  1961-1988 - A cloud seeding operation aimed at increasing rainfall in the southwestern United States when needed, during summer/low rainfall times and also used in winter months to increase snow pack. This project also had several sub-projects all across the continental United States.

Operation Popeye - ASIA - 1967-1972 - This was the first well known example of weather modification being used for warfare purposes. During the end years of Vietnam War, this project was tasked with prolonging the East Asian monsoon season in the Gulf of Tonkin area, for the benefit of the U.S. . There is argument over which U.S. leaders were responsible for the ordering of the projects, although very little argument over whether the project actually took place or not.

Beijing Weather Modification Office - CHINA - 1995-2008 ( - Present?) - Part of China's nationwide weather control programs, this office controls the weather around Beijing and other outlying areas. It is heavily thought that this office uses rainfall to 'wash the air' of pollutants in the heavily polluted city of Beijing. The projects are mostly aimed at creating rainfall and preventing hail. The agency also managed the weather during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

2008 Summer Olympics - CHINA - 2008 - The Beijing Weather Modification office boasted that it had kept the weather clear during the 2008 Olympics by strategically seeding clouds headed in the events location- causing the rain to drop before the clouds actually reached the location. While there is much argument as to whether their methods were successful or not, there is consensus on the fact that they did in fact try.

Weather Modification, Inc. - WORLDWIDE - 2010-Present - This is pretty much self explanatory, so check it out. This business sells cloud seeding services all over the world and lists twenty countries as regulars. Notable US clientele includes: U.S. Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Hurricane Center, and the Naval Service Warfare Center.

As well as many, many other ongoing projects worldwide.

Mother Nature or Big Brother?

xoxo disaster girl

P.F.S. Links for the Curious
How Cloud Seeding Works
WIKI Weather Modification

Disaster Kit Recommendations - Forcasting Weather Without Technology

Disaster Kit Recommendations
TIPS FOR FORECASTING WEATHER

WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY

• Generally speaking clouds that are high and white colored mean good weather, whereas clouds that are dark and low indicate bad weather.
• Clouds that are visibly moving in different directions (I.E. Some moving West to East VS East to West) means bad weather is coming.
• High wispy like clouds (Cirrus)  usually mean bad weather within the next thirty-six hours.
• If there is dew in the grass in the early morning it's not likely that it will rain that day, whereas if there isn't dewy it means it will likely be cloudy and may rain. 
• A red sky in the morning usually means rain on the way, whereas a red tinged sky at night means the weather will be nice.
• If you see a rainbow in the western sky, rain is likely on the way, to the east- it has already passed you.
• If birds are flying high, good weather is present. If the birds start flying low, or perching it usually means low pressure system is on the way.
• Chances are if you smell and/or hear the outdoors more than you normally do, rain is on the way.
• If smoke moves straight up, good weather will stay. If the smoke moves up and then gets pushed down or sideways a storm is likely approaching.
• Any storm systems in the west have likely not made it to you yet and will. Whereas storms that lie to the east have likely already passed you by.
• If there's a ring around the moon, there's moisture in the air.
• Leaves that are facing upwards (with the darker side facing the sun) mean good weather, whereas if the lighter side was visible you should expect some rainy/windy weather.
• You can tell the temperature by counting a crickets chirps. Count the chirps for 14 seconds and then add 40 to the number, the temperature should be right within a couple of degrees.
• A late night temperature rise usually means a storms approaching.
• Wind blowing east to west mean an approaching front and winds blowing west to east mean good weather.
• Wood and natural materials tend to swell before a storm arrives.
• Cloud cover on a winter night means a milder morning, whereas clear nights often give way to cooler mornings.

Clouds can tell you a great deal about

what kind of weather to expect:

• Cumulonimbus/Altonimbus/Nimbus/Mammatus/Nimbostratus clouds means bad weather.
• Cirrus/Altocumulus clouds mean bad weather in the next couple days.
• Cirrus/Altocumulus clouds in the same day means bad weather tomorrow.
• Cumulus clouds usually mean good weather.
• Stratus clouds usually mean a chance of rain/snow.

Happy Forecasting!

(&& Remember not be be as hard on yourself as you are on the Weather Man ;)

xoxo disaster girl

Atlantic Hurricane Season Sneaks Up On East Coast - 5/22/12 Final Update

Tropical Depression Alberto

The Atlantic hurricane season started almost three weeks before schedule this year, with the average date of the first storm of the season being around the 8th of June. Alberto also took a much different path then we typically see and originated off the coast of South Carolina rather than off the African Coast as seen more commonly in the Atlantic. The storm also made significant strides today going from a low percentage chance of a storm, to a decently organized tropical storm border lining hurricane strengths and pressures in a few hours.

Interesting Facts About Alberto

• First tropical storm in the Atlantic in 2012, formed 13 days before season officially started
• Earliest-forming tropical storm in Atlantic since Ana in 2003
• First time tropical storms formed in both basins before the official start of the East Pacific and Atlantic hurricane season
• First named storm usually arrives around the 9^th of July  (51 days early)
• First area of interest usually forms by the 8^th of June (20 days early)
• Originated from an area that is not highly common for forming tropical storms
• 23^rd pre-June named storm, only one (Able, 1951) became a major hurricane

As always you can follow here, or use any one of the resources listed in the Resources tab.

Updates will be added as they come in from the NHC.

xoxo disaster girl

New Page Added! Weather, Earthquake, Disaster, Sunspot Monitoring

Hello Guys!
I've added a new page here on The Disaster Caster!
Under the heading 'Widgets' you will find:

1. A Realtime Earthquake Map
2. A Realtime Disaster & Emergency Alert List
3. A Realtime Global Radar Map
4. The Daily Count of Sun Spots

Hope you enjoy!

In the coming weeks I will also be posting a resource list, so if any of you
want to monitor anything yourself you have the necessary materials to do so :)

xoxo disaster girl