In October 1947, weather planes tried to weaken a hurricane at sea by dropping dry ice into developing clouds. Scientists hoped to force the system to release most of its power as rain before it reached shore. The experiment didn’t work, and perhaps even caused it to turn and strike Savannah, Georgia (USA).

No more attempts were made to prevent a hurricane until 1958, when an oceanic hurricane was seeded with silver iodine crystals. The experimental results were inconclusive, but tests continue to be made. Weather planes will fly into hurricanes at up to 40,000 feet, releasing chemicals at different points and time intervals to try and reduce their power. So far, all the effects are only temporary. Treated hurricanes regain their full power and continue traveling northwest toward land.

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Forces of Nature: ThinkQuest 2000 (Team #C003603)

http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/hurricanes/prevention.shtml [ h u r r i c a n e s   :   p r e v e n t i o n ]

In October 1947, weather planes tried to weaken a hurricane at sea by dropping dry ice into developing clouds. Scientists hoped to force the system to release most of its power as rain before it reached shore. The experiment didn’t work, and perhaps even caused it to turn and strike Savannah, Georgia (USA).

No more attempts were made to prevent a hurricane until 1958, when an oceanic hurricane was seeded with silver iodine crystals. The experimental results were inconclusive, but tests continue to be made. Weather planes will fly into hurricanes at up to 40,000 feet, releasing chemicals at different points and time intervals to try and reduce their power. So far, all the effects are only temporary. Treated hurricanes regain their full power and continue traveling northwest toward land.

[ back to graphics version ]

Forces of Nature: ThinkQuest 2000 (Team #C003603)

http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/hurricanes/prevention.shtml