For decades various conspiracy theories have emerged suggesting world powers are trying to control the weather for various purposes. Is the idea science-fiction or reality?

Well the truth is there are a couple of methods that scientists have utilised to, not so much control weather, but to help it along its way. Cloud seeding is the most common form of this, tiny particles of silver iodine is sprinkled over clouds by planes to encourage rainfall.

The silver iodine is very similar to ice, adding it to clouds increases its weight until moisture is released as rain or snow.

Tests show successes in this method, China used cloud seeding during the Beijing Olympics to ensure clouds near venues released rain before it could impact the games.

Another form of weather control comes in creating clouds themselves. This idea stems from volcanoes. Following a volcanic eruption thick dark clouds are expelled high into the air blocking sun rays and cooling the planet.

A process called stratospheric aerosol injection has been invented at Harvard University and tests are on-going to safely create cloud cover to cool the planet.

So yes, there are forms of weather control but there’s no nefarious plan behind it.