The floods in Texas prompted speculation about cloud seeding's role in the disaster. Despite claims that Rainmaker, a cloud seeding startup, contributed to the extreme rainfall, experts assert that these theories lack scientific support. Katja Friedrich stated that cloud seeding had no connection to the floods. Bob Rauber described the conspiracy as misplaced blame and detailed how cloud seeding, a practice since the 1950s, involves using silver iodide particles to encourage ice crystal formation in clouds, enhancing precipitation under appropriate conditions.
"Cloud seeding had nothing to do with the floods," said Katja Friedrich, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder. This statement highlights the distinction between public perception and scientific evidence regarding the impact of cloud seeding on rainfall during the floods.
Bob Rauber, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois, stated, "It's just a complete conspiracy theory. Somebody is looking for somebody to blame." This reflects skepticism toward widespread conspiracy theories concerning cloud seeding and its connection to the floods in Texas.
Cloud seeding has been practiced since the 1950s, according to Bob Rauber, and involves spraying small particles, typically silver iodide, into clouds to stimulate rainfall.
Rauber points out that ice crystals grow faster than super-cooled water drops, meaning they can aggregate and eventually fall from the cloud to create precipitation, provided there is ample super-cooled water.
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