Original version

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

The Documentary

Documentaries

Factual

Investigating global developments, issues and affairs.

The Weather Changers

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

The Documentary: The weather changers

The weather changers

08/11/2022 GMT

BBC World Service - The Documentary, The weather changers

What is weather modification, does it really work and if so, is it problem free?

Weather changers fly around the world to make it rain, snow and suppress hail. What are they actually doing, does weather modification really work and if so, is it problem free?

For centuries we've made sacrifices, sent prayers to gods and summoned witches, in an attempt to bend the weather to our will. Science suggests now we might actually be able to do it. Weather modifiers are employed to make it rain, suppress hail and enhance snow packs. It is big business, from the UAE to Chile, Thailand to China, interest and investment is global. Kim Chakanetsa asks what the weather changers are actually doing, if it really works and if so, is it problem free?

(Photo: A BQ-100 Beechcraft plane fitted with canisters of Silver Iodide, Sodium Chloride and Potassium Chloride on its wings takes off for a cloud seeding experiment, Bangalore, India. Credit: Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Documentary

The weather changers

Genres

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service