cloud seeding

noun

1. any technique of adding material to a cloud to alter its natural development, usually to increase or obtain precipitation.

cloud seeding

1. A method of making a cloud give up its moisture as rain, especially by releasing particles of dry ice or silver iodide into cold clouds. Dry ice freezes water droplets in the cloud, turning them into nuclei for the formation of raindrops. Silver iodide particles are used because they have a crystal structure similar to ice and can also serve as nuclei for raindrop formation.

cloud seeding

1. A technique for producing rain by dropping chemicals or small objects into clouds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloud seeding¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

A community note clarified that, beyond small-scale operations like cloud seeding to create local rain, no human effort can directly manipulate weather events like hurricanes.

From Salon

Some users claimed weather manipulation techniques like cloud seeding are to blame.

From BBC

Cloud seeding involves manipulating existing clouds to try to produce more rain, for example in countries with a dry climate.

From BBC

“When we cloud seed, it is because we do not have enough aerosols or water vapor within the atmosphere to see condensation occur, so we try and force it through cloud seeding,” says Jill Trepanier, an expert in extreme weather phenomena from Louisiana State University.

From BBC

The method is known as cloud seeding and creates precipitation, thereby modifying weather.

From Seattle Times