overseeding

Cloud seeding is the deliberate introduction of substances like dry ice or silver iodide into clouds to induce precipitation, such as rain or snow. This process aims to increase water supplies or suppress hail formation. While experiments began in 1946, the effectiveness of cloud seeding remains debated, with some studies suggesting a modest increase in precipitation under optimal conditions. It is generally not practical for large areas and cannot significantly alter precipitation from major storms.12

Overseeding refers to a hail suppression technique where excessive nuclei are introduced into clouds, theoretically converting them entirely to ice crystals. However, this method is not considered practical due to the vast quantities of material required.3