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How do ground generators deliver silver iodide particles into clouds?
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weather modification
Cloud seeding can produce an extra 5 to 15% of precipitation.
Ground generators deliver silver iodide particles into clouds by relying on natural air currents to transport the nuclei upward into the supercooled regions of the cloud.1
The process typically involves the following steps:
- Preparation: Silver iodide is dissolved in a solution of sodium iodide and acetone.1
- Combustion: This solution is burned in a well-ventilated chamber at a temperature of approximately 1,100° C.1
- Dispersion: The combustion process produces a large number of minute silver iodide particles, ranging from 0.01 to 0.1 micrometres in diameter, which are then released into the atmosphere.1
Once released, these particles act as ice nuclei, which can trigger the formation of ice crystals in supercooled clouds, potentially influencing precipitation or hail formation. This method has been utilized in various countries, including the United States, France, Switzerland, and Argentina.12