Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 23, 2022 23:43:09 GMT 12
So, does this really work? Seeding clouds from aeroplanes. If it does work why is it not dome more often?
The “Rain-Makers”?
(NZ Press Association) BLENHEIM. Sept 10.
Blenheim “rain-makers” are claiming credit for heavy showers over the district today giving some relief to farmers affected by a drought. A twin-engined Piper Aztec, of the Wellington Aero Club; hired by a Blenheim topdressing firm, started seeding with dry ice at 9 a.m.; within half an hour the cloud at 10,000 feet had compacted and dropped to 8500. An hour after the seeding started rain began spreading south-east to the drier areas at Seddon and Ward.
By noon, 10 points of rain had been recorded at Blenheim, while in the south-east rain was reported to be falling steadily. Shortly after noon the cloud lifted and the rain eased.
The managing director of the topdressing firm of Aerial Work (Marlborough), Ltd, Mr M. Dunn, said that his company had borne the expenses of the experiment in the interests of the district. But he could not continue unless' the expenses were paid by someone else. “The Government could invest a few bob, as it’s better for them than paying relief later,” he said.
The hiring of the plane specially equipped to do this type of work, a pilot from Wellington and the purchase of 500 lb of dry ice was an expensive trial, but the fact that it proved something made it worthwhile, he said.
He had the rapport of farmers in the district, who were taking rainfall readings to gauge the effects of the seeding. Rain was not expected in the district, but according to a Meterologlcal Office spokesman in Wellington it had just come “earlier than expected.” It was also raining in Wellington, where no rain had been forecast, either, he said.
Heavy rain also fell in Nelson.
The spokesman said he doubted whether the seeding had been entirely responsible and suggested that it was purely a coincidence.
Mr Dunn said that the cloud reaction to the seeding—-he sat next to an open door of the Piper “shovelling” out dry ice—added weight to his claim that it caused rain.
The PRESS, 11 SEPTEMBER 1969
The “Rain-Makers”?
(NZ Press Association) BLENHEIM. Sept 10.
Blenheim “rain-makers” are claiming credit for heavy showers over the district today giving some relief to farmers affected by a drought. A twin-engined Piper Aztec, of the Wellington Aero Club; hired by a Blenheim topdressing firm, started seeding with dry ice at 9 a.m.; within half an hour the cloud at 10,000 feet had compacted and dropped to 8500. An hour after the seeding started rain began spreading south-east to the drier areas at Seddon and Ward.
By noon, 10 points of rain had been recorded at Blenheim, while in the south-east rain was reported to be falling steadily. Shortly after noon the cloud lifted and the rain eased.
The managing director of the topdressing firm of Aerial Work (Marlborough), Ltd, Mr M. Dunn, said that his company had borne the expenses of the experiment in the interests of the district. But he could not continue unless' the expenses were paid by someone else. “The Government could invest a few bob, as it’s better for them than paying relief later,” he said.
The hiring of the plane specially equipped to do this type of work, a pilot from Wellington and the purchase of 500 lb of dry ice was an expensive trial, but the fact that it proved something made it worthwhile, he said.
He had the rapport of farmers in the district, who were taking rainfall readings to gauge the effects of the seeding. Rain was not expected in the district, but according to a Meterologlcal Office spokesman in Wellington it had just come “earlier than expected.” It was also raining in Wellington, where no rain had been forecast, either, he said.
Heavy rain also fell in Nelson.
The spokesman said he doubted whether the seeding had been entirely responsible and suggested that it was purely a coincidence.
Mr Dunn said that the cloud reaction to the seeding—-he sat next to an open door of the Piper “shovelling” out dry ice—added weight to his claim that it caused rain.
The PRESS, 11 SEPTEMBER 1969
