Cloud Seeding:

Not as bad as you think.

By Zoe Glass, Academic Three
I am for cloud seeding- I see many benefits and ways around pollution. First of
all, we can know when to seed (if necessary) and the outcome using Global
Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM). Second of all, we can use flares- which are
safer than pollutants- and it’s also very rare that we do seed clouds. Finally, cloud
seeding can actually regulate storms. I will begin with how we can use GPMM to see
the outcome of cloud seeding.
My first reason as to why cloud seeding is good is that we can tell what we’ll
create and where to seed using NASA’s GPM. We can use GPM to see what’s in a
cloud so that we don’t accidentally create a mass-destruction hailstorm. GPM can also
predict precipitation levels, so no flooding! Thirdly, it has improved the forecasting of
disasters. In other words, we won’t seed a budding hurricane by accident. Now we'll
move on to my second reason.
My next reason supporting cloud seeding is that we can use something called a
flare, which is safer than a pollutant like silver iodine. A flare creates little to no pollution.
Also, only a small percentage of precipitation comes from cloud seeding. It’s very rare
that we do use cloud seeding- and I’d bet you couldn’t tell when we did! Let’s move on
to my last reason.
My third and final reason that cloud seeding is not dangerous is that it can
actually regulate storms and global temperatures. A flare lessens the deadline of
storms- all the more reason to use flares and not silver iodine. In the world we live in
today, global warming is becoming an increasingly concerning issue. Cloud seeding can
help by causing more precipitation to cool global temperatures. We can use it to
regulate weather; it lessens hail storm sizes. Extremeness of thunderstorms,
hurricanes, tornados, etc., can be lowered with cloud seeding. Need any more proof
than that?
Those are the three main reasons why I think cloud seeding is beneficial and
controllable. GPM can see the outcome of our seeding. Flares aren’t that harmful, and
cloud seeding is not a common part of life. It even regulates global warming and
dangerous storms! I hope I have won you over to the pro side. Goodbye… until my next
essay.