Controlling the weather – Quiz

1.  Read the text and answer the questions. 

1. True or false? Trying to control the weather is a new idea.
False. Scientists have tried to control the weather for centuries.

2. What chemical was used to try to generate precipitation from clouds?
In the 1940s, scientists discovered dropping particles of silver iodide into cloud tops could stimulate precipitation.

3. Who could benefit from extra rainfall created by cloud seeding?
Drought-affected farmers could benefit from extra rainfall created by cloud seeding.

4. What does solar geoengineering try to do with sunlight?
Solar geoengineering involves sunlight being reflected back to space to limit or reverse human-caused climate change.

5. How did one experiment try to use lasers to control thunderstorms?
One experiment involved firing laser pulses into thunderclouds in an attempt to suck out lightning in a controlled manner.

2.  Choose the appropriate words or phrases to complete the following sentences.

1. According to the weather forecast, we’re in for a wet spell , so I’m buying an umbrella.

2. Some say eating oranges will keep your cold at bay .

3. The rain is torrential – we can’t go out for a walk in this!

4. Water vapor in the air condenses and turns into fog.

5. The heat is extreme , so I’m staying indoors to keep cool. 

Controlling the weather

The weather affects all of us. An unexpected downpour or hot spell can be annoying, but when conditions are more extreme, it can severely impact agriculture, transport infrastructure and our homes. It’s no surprise that for centuries scientists have tried to control the weather – but is it really possible?

Due to climate change, there are more regular occurrences of heatwaves, which cause droughts, and torrential rain, which is responsible for flooding. Although humans are the cause of much of it, maybe we have a solution too? For example, China, the UAE and the USA are at the forefront of research into methods of producing rain in drought-stricken areas. And some scientists are even thinking about investigating technologies which could cool the entire planet.

It might sound like science fiction, but weather modification is nothing new. In the 1940s, scientists discovered that dropping particles of silver iodide into cloud tops, made the tiny water droplets condense and could stimulate precipitation. That’s called cloud seeding. This is a technique still being tested today with the aim of producing extra rainfall and, therefore, water for drought-affected farmers.

Other ideas for keeping nature at bay include using lasers to generate clouds and for controlling thunderstorms. One idea involved firing laser pulses into thunderclouds in an attempt to suck out lightning in a controlled manner. This was unsuccessful. New research into solar geoengineering has also begun. This type of climate engineering involves sunlight being reflected back to space to limit or reverse human-caused climate change.