Understanding the Texas Floods and the Cloud Seeding Conspiracy
The recent flash floods in central Texas have left a trail of devastation, with over 100 confirmed deaths, including 27 young campers and staff at a local girls’ summer camp. As the community grapples with the aftermath, social media has become a hotbed for misinformation, particularly surrounding the practice of cloud seeding.
What is Cloud Seeding?
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique designed to enhance rainfall by introducing substances like silver iodide into clouds. This process encourages the formation of larger droplets, which can then fall as rain. It is primarily used in drought-prone areas to increase water availability.
Despite its potential benefits, some conspiracy theorists have linked cloud seeding to the recent floods in Texas. These claims have gained traction among certain political figures and online communities, leading to widespread confusion.
The Claims and Their Origins
A popular conspiracy theory suggests that cloud seeding conducted two days before the floods was responsible for the disaster. This claim has been amplified by social media posts from well-known accounts, with some videos garnering millions of views. One such post questioned whether “blue rain” at a camping site was linked to “chemtrails” or “cloud seading.”
Political figures, including Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and former National Security Advisor General Mike Flynn, have echoed these theories, further fueling the spread of misinformation.
Scientific Consensus on Cloud Seeding
Experts in atmospheric science have consistently refuted the notion that cloud seeding contributed to the Texas floods. Edward Gryspeerdt, a Research Fellow at Imperial College London, emphasizes that cloud seeding cannot create rain out of nothing. Instead, it aims to enhance existing clouds that are already close to producing rain.
Travis Herzog, a chief meteorologist in Houston, explains that cloud seeding can only increase rainfall by up to 20% in existing clouds. He states that it is physically impossible for cloud seeding to create the massive storms that led to the floods.
Matthew Cappucci, an atmospheric scientist, adds that cloud seeding cannot generate the vast amounts of water needed for such extreme weather events. He notes that the idea of creating 4 trillion gallons of water through cloud seeding is not feasible.
The Timeline and Dispersal of Particles
CEO Augustus Doricko of Rainmaker, the company at the center of the controversy, clarified that the last cloud seeding operation near Kerr County occurred on July 2, two days before the floods. However, experts argue that any particles dispersed during this operation would have long since dispersed.
Dr. Sandra Yuter, a professor of atmospheric sciences at North Carolina State University, explains that horizontal winds would have moved the air volume seeded at least 1,000 kilometers away from the location of the cloud seeding between July 2 and 4. Given the size of Texas, she concludes that the cloud seeding on July 2 could not have influenced the storms that hit the region on July 4.
Climate Change and Future Risks
While cloud seeding is not responsible for the Texas floods, the event highlights the increasing frequency of extreme weather events linked to climate change. ICL’s Edward Gryspeerdt notes that the floods were driven by record amounts of atmospheric moisture in a region prone to flash floods.
He warns that as the atmosphere warms, such extreme rainfall events are likely to become more common. Climate models predict that while Texas may become slightly drier on average due to climate change, the intensity of rainfall will likely increase, leading to more frequent and severe thunderstorms.
Conclusion
In summary, the claims linking cloud seeding to the Texas floods are baseless and unsupported by scientific evidence. Experts emphasize that cloud seeding cannot create the conditions necessary for such extreme weather events. As the world faces the growing challenges of climate change, it is crucial to rely on accurate information and scientific consensus to address the impacts of extreme weather.
