Lasers Can Be Used to Reduce Artificial Rain

Man's obsession to create artificial rain continues. Now, the researchers say that they'd be able to create water droplets using high-powered laser beam.

Using a technique called laser-assisted water condensation (condensation of water assisted laser), a team of researchers from the UK are also able to reveal the secrets of the water cycle and help people decide when and where rain can be lowered.

This technique is fairly fresh and "safe". Previously, the idea of ​​making artificial rain with the technique of "feeding the cloud" is not considered environmentally friendly. Because the chemical particles are used in the process (dry ice and silver iodide) are considered environmentally unfriendly. While this laser technique using the level of humidity and atmospheric conditions are natural to create water droplets.

"Lasers can be used continuously, easily directed, and not spreading silver iodide in large quantities into the atmosphere," says physicist Jerome Kasparian of the University of Geneva. This technique, he added, also allows us to revive the laser on and off whenever we want, make it easier to evaluate its effects.

The research team conducted experiments with this laser on the banks of the Rhone River, near Lake Geneva, after building a giant laser installation moves. After 133 hours of firing a high-intensity laser beam, which creates nitric acid particles in the air, resulting in intermolecular bonding of water and produce water droplets. Although it was not really rain, the team was optimistic that scientists could manipulate the weather conditions.

The idea of ​​change and control the weather is not a new idea. In 1946, Vincent Schaefer developed a baiting technique clouds (cloud-seeding), which is still used today. In China, the government operates a feeder system of the world's largest clouds to create rain in the arid regions, even in Beijing.