Question

Cloud seeding is a technique used to induce rain that was first used by the USA in 1946. It also has been done in other places in India. What is it?
(A) An agricultural practice that depends on clouds
(B) Introduction of particles in clouds to increase condensation
(C) Making clouds and placing them in the sky
(D) Trimming the clouds into seed like structures

Answer 1

Hint: The attempt to modify weather by changing the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds can be defined as Cloud seeding. This is usually done, by diffusing substances into the air which serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei and the microphysical processes within the cloud are altered by these substances.

Complete step by step solution:
- The Cloud seeding is a method to artificially produce rain and the process is also known as man-made precipitation enhancement, rainmaking, artificial weather modification etc. This technology sprays certain particles on clouds using a special aircraft, dispersion devices located on the ground, or from rockets.
-The common chemicals used for the process of cloud seeding includes silver iodide, potassium iodide, solid carbon dioxide or dry ice, and liquid propane .These salt particles will act as ice-nucleating particles or cloud condensation nuclei which can draw water vapour within the cloud towards them and the moisture latches on, condensing into water droplets leading to the formation of raindrops.
- The aim of cloud seeding is to change the natural development of the cloud to improve precipitation, dissipate fog, reduce lightning, or suppress hail. The cloud seeding has its roots in 1946 when American scientists Bernard Vonnegu and Vincent Schaefer at General Electric successfully seeded a cloud with dry ice.

Thus, the answer is option (B) Introduction of particles in clouds to increase condensation

Note: It should be noted that there are mainly three types of cloud seeding processes. They are Static cloud seeding, dynamic cloud seeding and hygroscopic cloud seeding. Also, whether this process is effective in producing a significant increase in precipitation is still a matter of academic debate, and have contrasting opinions among experts.