Limited Weather Modification Fuels Grandiose Conspiracy Theories

Key Quotes

"fundamentally preposterous from a scientific standpoint has grown louder and more common in recent years it pops up over and over when extreme weather strikes in dubai in april 2024 in australia in july 2022 in the us after california floods and hurricanes like helene and milton in the uk conspiracy theorists claimed that the government had fixed the weather to be sunny and rain free during the first covid lockdown in march 2020 most recently the theory spread again when disastrous floods hit central texas in july 2025"

David Levitan explains that claims of weather control, while scientifically unfounded, have become increasingly prevalent. He notes that these theories surface repeatedly following extreme weather events across various global locations, indicating a growing public susceptibility to such explanations.

"but here's the thing while greene and other believers are not correct this conspiracy theory like so many others holds a kernel of much more modest truth behind the grandiose claims sure there is no current way for humans to control the weather we can't cause major floods or redirect hurricanes or other powerful storm systems simply because the energy involved is far too great for humans to alter significantly but there are ways we can modify the weather the key difference is the scale of what is possible"

David Levitan points out that despite the inaccuracy of grand weather control claims, they are rooted in a partial truth. He clarifies that while humans cannot manipulate large-scale weather systems due to the immense energy involved, they do possess the capability for more modest weather modification, highlighting a crucial distinction in scale.

"the most common weather modification practice is called cloud seeding and it involves injecting small amounts of salts or other minerals into clouds with the goal of juicing levels of rain or snow this is typically done in dry areas that lack regular precipitation research shows that it can in fact work though advances in technology reveal that its impact is modest coaxing may be 5 to 10 more moisture out of otherwise stubborn clouds but the fact that humans can influence weather at all gives conspiracy theorists a foothold in the truth"

David Levitan describes cloud seeding as a common weather modification technique that uses mineral injections to encourage rain or snow, particularly in arid regions. He states that research confirms its effectiveness, though advances show its impact is limited to a modest increase in moisture, and this very ability to influence weather provides a basis for conspiracy theories.

"there is absolutely no evidence that cloud seeding can modify a cloud to the extent that would be needed to cause a flood french says floods require a few factors he adds a system with plenty of moisture available that stays localized to a certain spot for an extended period all of these things which cloud seeding has zero effect on he says the technology simply operates on a cloud seeding really is looking at making an inefficient system a little bit more efficient french says"

Jeff French clarifies that cloud seeding cannot create floods because it lacks the capacity to provide the necessary sustained moisture or localized storm systems. French explains that the technology's function is limited to improving the efficiency of existing weather systems rather than generating large-scale events.

"it's hard to hold all this complexity and conspiracy theorizing is one way of making it intelligible and understandable conspiracy theories give us a big bad to point the finger at someone to blame and a place to put our feelings of anger despair and grief she writes it's much less satisfying to yell at the weather or to engage in the sustained collective action we actually need to tackle climate change"

Naomi Smith suggests that conspiracy theories offer a simplified framework for understanding complex issues like climate change. Smith posits that these theories provide a tangible target for blame and an outlet for negative emotions, which is psychologically easier than confronting the multifaceted reality of climate change or engaging in necessary collective action.