Coaxing the clouds
Farmer's Weekly|23 June 2023
The history of weather modification has been stormy. From exploding balloons to strewing smelly chemical concoctions around dams, Roelof Bezuidenhout looks at how we came to the exact science of rainmaking.
Roelof Bezuidenhout
Coaxing the clouds

The idea of inducing rainfall artifically was first considered seriously in the US in the 1800s.

In 1838, the Americans hatched a plan to end a devastating drought by setting fire to huge forests, hoping that the smoke would stimulate rain. The plan was rejected, but in around 1890, the Texas government experimented with exploding balloons to seed clouds.

In 1916, Charles Hatfield, with a generous donation from the mayor of San Diego in California, mixed a concoction of 24 chemicals that smelt of rotten cheese and strewed it around a large reservoir outside the city. A flood ensued a few days later, washing away roads and railways.

Whether it was his fault or not, Hatfield disappeared overnight.

SOUTH AFRICA

The first attempt at cloud seeding in South Africa was in 1922, when someone tossed a bag of ordinary table salt from a small aeroplane into a promising cloud. The result, unfortunately, is unknown.

However, in 2007, a South African weather research project received an international award. At the time, Dr Deon Terblanche of the Bethlehem weather research station claimed that weather modification was an effective way to supplement water supplies when suitable clouds were available.

Silver iodide or dry ice is spread into clouds from an aircraft. Ice crystals form and become heavy enough to fall to earth as raindrops. Terblanche said that treated storms delivered twice as much rain as untreated clouds.

His experiments showed that 75 treated storms in a 100km by 100km area increased rainfall by 10%. And there are many more storms than that on the Highveld. It does not work at the coast due to the low clouds and high salt content of the air.

Denne historien er fra 23 June 2023-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra 23 June 2023-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA FARMER'S WEEKLYSe alt
Understanding eye conditions in horses: causes and first aid
Farmer's Weekly

Understanding eye conditions in horses: causes and first aid

A horse can get a swollen eye from bumping it against a tree, shaking its head to keep flies away, or even snake venom

time-read
2 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
IPM requires a completely different mindset
Farmer's Weekly

IPM requires a completely different mindset

You need to investigate any beneficial insects that may appear on your plants, or you can purchase them

time-read
2 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Does parrot farming protect wild species?
Farmer's Weekly

Does parrot farming protect wild species?

Those in favour of commercial captive breeding argue that breeding parrots to sell can relieve pressure on wild populations. Researchers Neil D'Cruze and Rowan Martin review the evidence.

time-read
3 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Bacterial and fungal diseases of garlic
Farmer's Weekly

Bacterial and fungal diseases of garlic

Garlic can be prone to bacterial and fungal diseases, and it's important that farmers are proactive in preventing infection and practise appropriate management. Magda du Toit reports.

time-read
6 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Responsible wastewater management: a crucial part of farming
Farmer's Weekly

Responsible wastewater management: a crucial part of farming

The inadequate management of waste water is a challenge that the agriculture sector needs to deal with. Magda du Toit spoke to experts in waste and water management about a cost-effective treatment system.

time-read
5 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Technology that can help protect South Africa's farms
Farmer's Weekly

Technology that can help protect South Africa's farms

Farm attacks, murders, livestock and crop theft, and other rural crimes are a growing concern in South Africa. As a result, more and more farmers are turning to advanced security technology to protect their lives, properties, and livelihoods. Sinenhlanhla Mncwango spoke to experts about the security strategies that producers can adopt to combat these threats.

time-read
6 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
The impact of theft on farms in South Africa
Farmer's Weekly

The impact of theft on farms in South Africa

A high number of livestock are being stolen every year in South Africa. Insurance is expensive and farmers are battling to find solutions to the problem, says Dr Lindie von Maltitz, agricultural economics lecturer in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State.

time-read
5 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Staying afloat amid the cost-price squeeze
Farmer's Weekly

Staying afloat amid the cost-price squeeze

John Hudson, head of agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the importance of environmental and social sustainability for a prosperous agriculture sector.

time-read
8 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
Free State has no reason to mark Transport Month
Farmer's Weekly

Free State has no reason to mark Transport Month

Free State Agriculture (FSA) is very concerned about the extremely poor state of rural paved and gravel roads in the province and has very little, if anything, to celebrate during Transport Month, which takes place every October.

time-read
1 min  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024
SA's food system ‘vulnerable to climate change'
Farmer's Weekly

SA's food system ‘vulnerable to climate change'

The Just Transition Agenda for Food System Policymaking in SA webinar, hosted by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) in October, highlighted the role that South Africa’s food system plays in contributing to climate change and how vulnerable it is to the impact thereof.

time-read
2 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 8 November 2024