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
On the left, a car on a flooded road; on the right, the weather radar showing heavy rain.
Monday, 20 April 2026

Up to 80 mm in a day

Record rainfall in eastern Germany
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

Capture the scene with us

Your moment, your location, your weather
All weather news
This might also interest you
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday, 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
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
Illustration of white and yellow fireworks on a blue background.
Wednesday, 31 December 2025

Hello 2026

Happy New Year
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