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
UK and Ireland map shaded in warm tones showing UV levels, with values up to 22 in southern England and lower values in Scotland, plus a circular UV icon.
Tuesday, 7 April 2026

Sunscreen season

UV levels rising with the warmth
A green, rolling landscape after rain. Alongside it, a weather map showing a low-pressure system. Indications of further rainfall.
Wednesday, 8 April 2026

New low approaching

Morocco bursting to life after rain
Two cyclones are currently threatening the South Sea islands off the coast of Australia.
Monday, 6 April 2026

Solomon Islands and Fiji

Cyclones threaten South Pacific islands
All weather news
This might also interest you
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing scattered showers with cloudy patches across much of the region, especially around western and northern areas. Sunshine symbols appear over London, Cardiff, and parts of southern England, while temperatures range from 17°C to 18°C in most places. Areas of heavier rain are visible over the Atlantic to the west.
Friday, 29 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Unsettled conditions into the weekend
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 aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
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