Rainmaker Tests Cloud-Seeding Technology in Alaska to Combat Drought
Rainmaker, a California-based company, is testing its cloud-seeding technology in Alaska, specifically on the Kenai Peninsula near Homer. The company aims to produce more precipitation, both rain and snow, to address widespread drought conditions across the U.S. Rainmaker's method involves using custom-built drones to disperse silver iodide, which acts as cloud condensation nuclei, encouraging water vapor to form droplets and ultimately precipitation. The company's founder and CEO, Augustus Doricko, stated that Alaska provides suitable cold cloud conditions for testing that are not available in the Lower 48 during summer. During a recent test, Rainmaker reported producing 19 million gallons of water in three hours, though Doricko acknowledged this amounts to less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation over 100 square miles. Cloud seeding has been practiced for decades, historically used for fog dispersal at airports and snow production in mountains, but has often faced skepticism regarding its effectiven...