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
Shooting stars, part of the Geminid meteor shower.
Saturday, 13 December 2025

Spot a shooting star

King of meteor showers at its peak
Dense green forest with tall trees as bright sunlight streams through the canopy, casting long shadows across the leafy ground.
Sunday, 21 December 2025

Winter solstice

Days start getting longer from now!
Weather map of Europe with high and low pressure areas marked. Isobar lines show the pressure distribution, alongside a forecast map. Different weather conditions from northern to Southern Europe.
Monday, 22 December 2025

"High over low"

Blocking weather conditions at Christmas
All weather news
This might also interest you
Split weather map showing UK wind speeds in orange-red shades up to 40 mph on the left and warning levels in green-yellow on the right, with a central wind warning sign.
Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Warnings active

Storm Benjamin impacts the UK
Split weather map showing the UK and Ireland. The left side illustrates strong winds circulating around a low-pressure system, with gusts of 20–30 mph highlighted in orange and yellow. The right side shows radar imagery with widespread blue rain bands and patches of thunderstorms, especially over northern England and Scotland.
Thursday, 28 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Remaining widely unsettled
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday, 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
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