In the midst of historic drought in the Rocky Mountains, many water managers are looking for ways to get more moisture into the environment. Some are considering things like cloud seeding, which is meant to create more precipitation in certain areas. It’s a technique that has been used for decades in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Rain Enhancement Technologies, a company that’s operated in Oman, doesn’t use traditional cloud-seeding methods, which are characterized by putting silver iodide particles into the atmosphere. Instead, they do what they call “ionization cloud seeding,” which uses high-voltage rays to ionize naturally occurring aerosols in the atmosphere. Aerosols are necessary for cloud formation, and therefore, precipitation.

Other cloud seeding news:

• World Journal (Walsenburg, Colo.): Facing drought, Las Animas considers cloud seeding 
• FOX13 (Salt Lake City): Video: Solar-powered ionization system tested to boost Utah precipitation
• Arizona’s Family (Phoenix): Video: Arizona is exploring cloud seeding
• Western Governor’s Association: Blog: Cloud seeding to boost snowfall​