Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
Home / Editor's Pick /

Can we control the weather?

06:00
19 June 2022

Weather myths
Can we control the weather?

rainfall on umbrella

For decades various conspiracy theories have emerged suggesting world powers are trying to control the weather for various purposes. Is the idea science-fiction or reality?

Well the truth is there are a couple of methods that scientists have utilised to, not so much control weather, but to help it along its way. Cloud seeding is the most common form of this, tiny particles of silver iodine is sprinkled over clouds by planes to encourage rainfall.

The silver iodine is very similar to ice, adding it to clouds increases its weight until moisture is released as rain or snow.

Tests show successes in this method, China used cloud seeding during the Beijing Olympics to ensure clouds near venues released rain before it could impact the games.

Another form of weather control comes in creating clouds themselves. This idea stems from volcanoes. Following a volcanic eruption thick dark clouds are expelled high into the air blocking sun rays and cooling the planet.

A process called stratospheric aerosol injection has been invented at Harvard University and tests are on-going to safely create cloud cover to cool the planet.

So yes, there are forms of weather control but there’s no nefarious plan behind it.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Split image with a shooting star streaking across a starry night sky on the left and a UK nighttime weather map on the right showing cloud, clear spells, and temperatures.
Wednesday, 22 April 2026

Make a wish!

Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak
Map of Europe showing a temperature radar in the west and a weather radar in the north. Mild to warm temperatures over the Iberian Peninsula. Snow and cold weather clearly visible in Scandinavia.
Thursday, 23 April 2026

Cosy versus wintry

Big contrast in Europe's spring weather
Wednesday, 29 April 2026

Unevenly spread rainfall

Two weather worlds in Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday, 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday, 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday, 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList