US deploys plan to make artificial snow to fight drought

A team of US scientists is working on a project to make artificial snow to help solve the worst drought in 1,200 years.

According to CNN, many western states are being affected by the worst drought in 1,200 years, leaving 61% of the area in drought and water shortages. The situation is aggravated by global climate change.

Airplanes make snow directly into the clouds

In recent years, the US states have implemented many solutions, including the protection of snow mountains - water sources in the dry season in these localities.

In it, a group of scientists is implementing a project to make artificial snow, supplementing the snow source on the mountains in the area.

This winter alone, Wyoming has made 28 snow-making flights over the mountains. About four more weeks before the summer winds begin to blow, the work on artificial snow will stop.

To create snow, the team had to "seed" snow, by spraying silver iodine into the clouds to stimulate water vapor condensation and create large ice crystals.

Usually there are two ways to "sow" seeds. A way of "shooting" particles from the ground, a way of flying a plane straight into the clouds.

Julie Gondzar, director of the snow generation program at Wyoming, says that "sowing" snowdrops is essentially water retention. Instead of being kept in a container, the water is now stored as snow on the mountain tops. In the drought season, it can be a source of water for activities and production.

In the past, partly due to not being thick enough, most of the snow melted on the mountains in the spring, increasing water shortages in the dry season.

Silver iodide mounted on aircraft wings is used to "seed" snow

Although the snow-making team is working hard, but according to Gondzar, "sowing" seeds is just one of many tools that must be implemented at the same time to improve the current record drought situation.

Besides, in recent years, the process of creating snow has encountered many difficulties. The increasingly dry weather caused by climate change seems to make the sky in the western United States less cloudy.

"You won't be able to make snow from scratch. At least you have to have a cloud to 'sow' silver iodized snow. Snow can't come from thin air," Gondzar said.

Snowy mountains in Wyoming in winter

Also according to Gondzar, silver iodide is considered a natural compound of salt, so the water quality will also be guaranteed as in nature.