WMOD00287 ‎(2)‎

• Project Name: Project Skywater
• Title: Summary Report - Seeding Agents Group - November 8-12, 1976, Skywater Meeting
• Date: 11/8/1976
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

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clouds in fog-clearing operations. ~I'he changes in salinity of rain falling from
clouds seeded with salt is negligible and not considered a ~roblern. Increased
.salinity may be highly toxic to vegetation around an airport where salt is used
to clear fog. This problem is not within th~ scope of Project Sh.-ywater.

Recorrmendations

No action or research is recornrended.

Issue 22: Corrosiveness Of Sarre Agents

The corrosiveness of sodium chloride or other alternate seeding naterial \\Ould
only be of concern vJhen used close to the ground as in a fog-c;Learing operation.
Since fog m:x1ification is not in the Project Skywater mission this should be
of little direct concern.

Recomnendations

No action or research recornrrended.

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ISSUES WHICH MAY BECOME OF CONCERN '10 VARIOUS GroUPS IN THE NEAR FUruRE

Possible effects of organic nucleating agents on tl}e a1:::nosphere and atI!ospheric
processes, especially related to the field of pollution.

Knowledge of seeding agent-derived chemical ecological effects nay cause .
increasErl a\vareness of possible effects of similar agents released by other
sources. This my become an issue in the supp:>rt or lack of supp:>rt of
l~u research in this area.

The lay public my became nore aware of the possible additive or synergistic
effects of rombinations of agents, one of which may be seeding agents.

. mNCWSIONS
ENVIroNHENTAL ll'IPACTS OF NlX:LEATING AGENTS USED IN WEATHER HJDIFlCATION

1. Based on purely environmental considerations (not considering relative
economics and changes in delivery system capabilities), use of silver
iodide as a nucleating agent should have an insignificant impact on the
envirornrent.

This is resed on the following factors:

-No biological evidence is available to date to indicate that unacceptable
changes might occur in biological systems which are of concern to the
general public.

-The relatively minor contribution of silver released to the environment
by weather rrodification, in comparison with other sources of silver.

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2. This conclusion sh:>u1d be coupled with the recognition that individuals
or groups using this technology have an obligation to rro.intain a level of
awareness of current and developing knowledge in this area. This will allow
users to alert the public to any p:>ssible changes ll1 ti1eir assessments and
to contribute to ti1e general knowledge regarding nucleating agents.

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