sign in sign up
<<
Home , Atmospheric science, Cloud

MAKE IT : THE SCIENCE BEHIND ALTERING THE

DARREL BAUMGARDNER MAKE IT RAIN: THE SCIENCE BEHIND ALTERING THE WEATHER

WHENEVER HUMANKIND BELIEVES IT HAS CONTROL OVER THE NATURAL WORLD, THE WEATHER LIKES TO PROVE US WRONG. , FLOODS AND DROUGHTS ARE JUST SOME OF THE WEATHER PATTERNS THAT CAN COMPLICATE OR EVEN THREATEN HUMAN . WE HAVE INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUES FOR , BUT NOW SCIENTISTS ARE LOOKING EVEN FURTHER: TOWARDS DARREL BAUMGARDNER, OF THE DIRECTLY MODIFYING THE WEATHER ITSELF. AND DROPLET MEASUREMENT NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO TECHNOLOGIES, RESEARCHES THE INTRIGUING TECHNIQUE OF SEEDING

TALK LIKE AN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENTIST GEOENGINEERING – deliberate, large-scale intervention in the ’s system, usually to mitigate . CLIMATE – the general weather conditions over a long period. NUCLEI (IN) – similar to CCN, in the that form around. CLOUD NUCLEI (CCN) – small particles around which vapour condenses and ultimately forms . – water that falls from clouds to the ground, such as rain, , or sleet. – intentionally adding CCN to the atmosphere to change precipitation patterns. SPECTROMETER – an instrument that measures spectral properties, such as the reflective properties of cloud particles. DISDROMETER – a ground-based instrument to measure precipitation properties. WEATHER – the state of the atmosphere of a particular area at a particular .

Rain, or the lack of it, can cause problems. of investigating clouds, not only how they vapour in the atmosphere condenses into Too little rain can lead to droughts, which form but also how humans can influence clouds, but this process can only occur carries risks of crop failure and scarcity of their formation. As well as working with the presence of cloud condensation drinking water. Too much rain can cause within academia, he is the founder and nuclei (CCN). These are essentially small flooding and other forms of precipitation, Chief Scientist at Droplet Measurement particles of any number of substances, such such as hail, can cause physical damage to Technologies, which provides scientific as dust, soot or . To transition from a gas crops and property. Being able to influence instruments and expertise to researchers to a , water molecules have to have when, where and how much rain falls could investigating aspects of cloud formation. something to cling onto, and CCN fulfil help prevent these negative effects. this function. Ice nuclei (IN) are the CCN WHAT IS CLOUD SEEDING? equivalent for the formation of ice crystals in Darrel Baumgardner has made a career A key step in the is when water the atmosphere. DARREL BAUMGARDNER National Autonomous University of Mexico and Chief Scientist at Droplet Measurement Technologies, Longmont, Colorado, USA

FIELD OF RESEARCH Cloud seeding is a human-made technique that how they will respond to seeding, there are adds extra CCN or IN into the atmosphere, many factors to take into account, and at which can either enhance or suppress many different scales. For instance, the precipitation, depending on how, when and of cloud droplets around a CCN RESEARCH PROJECT where it’s done. This technique was famously happens at the microscopic level and in a used to keep the 2008 Beijing Olympics dry: of milliseconds, whereas the time to Investigating how clouds form, rockets containing silver iodide particles (a grow to visible raindrops (and eventually entire and how we can influence type of IN) were fired into the atmosphere, clouds) can take minutes to hours. When this their formation. intercepting incoming rainclouds and triggering is expanded to include the interconnected premature showers before they could reach cloud formation over entire regions, it gets the capital. complicated very fast.

HOW CAN YOU MEASURE SUCH A However, this complexity is not COMPLEX SYSTEM? insurmountable. “Modern computers have Atmospheric science is very complex, and provided cloud modellers with the tools needed scientists simply don’t have all the information to create such models,” says Darrel. Model required to guarantee that cloud seeding will inputs include , , relative news for coral reefs and other underwater have the intended effect. In some instances, , CCN and IN specific to a certain . One project is looking into cloud seeding can even lead to the opposite time and area, and then different seeding seeding stratus clouds over the Great Barrier effect to that intended. There is also a certain scenarios are run to see how they affect cloud Reef, which would deflect away from lack of control. “Once the seeding material properties. As with any model, it remains a the ’s surface and mitigate warming in that is released, there is nothing more that can be simplified representation of the real world, so area. In theory, this practice could be carried done,” says Darrel. results aren’t perfect, but are getting more out worldwide. precise all the time. Measuring cloud properties, and how they However, given the complex of react to different conditions, is essential. THE BIGGER PICTURE atmospheric science, geoengineering efforts “There are two general types of instruments Cloud seeding could help mitigate against on a global scale pose many challenges for used to measure cloud properties,” says droughts, floods and even air , but scientists. For example, stimulating rainfall Darrel. The first are called disdrometers, and there are, perhaps, even bigger and more long- to alleviate drought in one area could lead to measure precipitation at the ground, including term applications. Geoengineering is the name extreme in another. Experts in this variables such as size, velocity and type of given to techniques that aim not just to alter are mindful that they need to consider precipitation. The second type measures the the weather but also the climate, to attempt the intricacies of the bigger picture. As Darrel properties of clouds themselves and are called to counteract the effects of climate change. explains, with processes such as cloud seeding, spectrometers. By fixing a spectrometer to an When carried out at a global scale, cloud there is always the, “Goldilocks conundrum” aircraft or drone and flying it through a cloud, seeding and similar techniques are the most and the challenge is in getting things ‘just scientists can record cloud water content significant of these proposed measures. right’. He adds, “As atmospheric scientists, we and a number of other variables. Similar know that climate change is real.” Scientists measurements can also be taken from a great “Geoengineering has the potential to offset like Darrel can make a huge difference to our distance, using or even . the negative impacts of climate change,” says world – will you be one of them? Darrel. For instance, one effect of climate HOW CAN SCIENTISTS MODEL CLOUD change is the absorption of the ’s heat by PROPERTIES? the , which raises marine When it comes to modelling clouds to predict and can lead to acidification – bad ABOUT ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE

WHAT IS ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE? instruments,” says Darrel. “We can also run know that climate change is real and is the Atmospheric science studies the layers of gas computers hundreds of more powerful greatest danger that the world faces today,” that surround the , specifically their than just a few decades ago.” These huge says Darrel. Not only does atmospheric and their dynamics. This includes advancements mean that understanding of science provide us with much of the data interactions within the atmosphere, and atmospheric science is accelerating. “We about climate change – its predicted evolution between the atmosphere and other entities, know so much more about how clouds evolve and effects –, it also suggests ways we could such as the ocean or human activity. than we did 50 years ago, but we still have a protect ourselves against it. long way to go before we can truly ‘control’ Our atmosphere is the relatively thin barrier weather,” says Darrel. Atmospheric science has a huge amount to that separates the Earth’s surface from . teach us about the present and the future of “Although the atmosphere makes up a small WHAT ARE THE REAL-WORLD our planet, and a career in it could have far- fraction of the Earth’s volume, it is critical to APPLICATIONS OF ATMOSPHERIC reaching positive impacts for society. life, not only for the we need but also SCIENCE? for the hydrological cycle.” The science that Weather forecasting, although it might seem attempts to explain it is complex and detailed, a rather bland aspect of everyday life, has the but has come on in leaps and bounds in recent potential to save countless . Forecasting decades. tropical storms, or hurricanes, for instance, can help people prepare and HOW HAS THE FIELD CHANGED OVER safeguard themselves and their livelihoods. THE YEARS? “We are now able to make faster and more Atmospheric science also underpins much Seeding material is dispensed by burning flares like accurate measurements with much smaller of what we know about climate change. “We those seen attached to the trailing edge of the wing of this seeding aircraft.

How to become an atmospheric scientist

• According to NASA, a career in atmospheric science could begin with an undergraduate degree in , , chemistry, , , engineering or computer science.

• The Royal Meteorological Society has a list of UK universities that offer qualifications related to atmospheric science: https://www.rmets.org/courses

• According to College Factual, the top three universities in the USA for studying atmospheric science and meteorology are: Texas A&M University – College Station; University of California – Los Angeles; and University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

• Darrel highlights the University of Washington, the University of Wyoming, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Colorado State University and North Carolina State University as establishments to consider.

• According to Career Explorer, the average salary for an atmospheric scientist in the USA is about $94k. HOW DID DARREL BAUMGARDNER BECOME AN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENTIST?

WHAT WERE YOUR INTERESTS AS A WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF give classes in cloud and physics, CHILD? FROM YOUR CAREER? as well as teaching measurement and data I was always curious as a child. I had my I have been a university professor for analysis techniques. own chemistry set, Meccano, and lots of fourteen years and a research scientist for other educational toys that were available forty. I also have a patented design: the WHAT’S NEXT? at that time. I enjoyed exploding things, Backscatter Cloudprobe with Polarisation I have too many goals to name! I hope to taking things apart and putting them back Detection. I have won an award for being improve techniques for measuring cloud ice together again. For a time, I was interested the most cited Latin American scientist, crystal properties, and to develop a better in becoming a writer, but decided to with over 200 high-impact publications. I method for identifying pollen particles in become a physicist at high school. also founded my own tech company that real time. does , which is still DID YOUR TEACHERS INFLUENCE going strong after thirty years! YOUR DECISIONS? I was lucky to have several inspirational HOW DO YOUR ROLES IN Darrel’s TOP TIPS teachers. My math teachers and my senior ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY FOR STUDENTS year physics teacher energised me with COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER? their enthusiasm for their subjects. A skilled Many of my company’s clients are teacher is driven by their and is academics, and I interact with them and 01 – Follow your instincts, and don’t doubt yourself. Once you someone who students want to emulate. their students. I often visit universities and have made a decision, don’t look backwards or regret your choice.

02 – Attributes such as curiosity, Pathway from school to atmospheric science problem solving, creativity and exploring my own wild ideas have hugely helped my scientific career. Darrel recommends taking: 03 – Let your creativity grow and don’t limit yourself. Being able MATHS CHEMISTRY PHYSICS to write well is essential, so read widely: history, literature, fiction, non-fiction. Music can also provide a great creative outlet.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Other subjects such as geography and computer science could also be very useful. ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE WITH DARREL BAUMGARDNER

TALKING POINTS

1. What are cloud condensation nuclei? 5. Why is computer modelling important for Darrel’s work?

2. What is cloud seeding? 6. What is geoengineering?

3. How could cloud seeding help: 7. What has enabled atmospheric science to become more a) farmers; b) riverside communities; c) sporting events? sophisticated?

4. What are the two broad ways of measuring cloud properties? 8. What are some ways that atmospheric science can help people?

ACTIVITIES FOR HOME OR IN THE CLASSROOM

ACTIVITY 1 FURTHER RESOURCES Although cloud seeding is nowadays understood better than ever, the basic theory has been applied in various forms for many years. • NASA’s Earth Observatory has a collection of stunning and Look up examples of cloud seeding online and answer the following frequently updated images and sequences, including of questions. Remember to check the authenticity of the information you atmospheric phenomena: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images find. • MetLink has a wealth of resources for schools and students. As well • How has cloud seeding benefited vulnerable people? as lesson plans, case studies and so on, they also have a scheme • How has cloud seeding benefited wealthy people? that lets UK schools borrow weather instruments. Find out more: • How has cloud seeding benefited the environment? https://www.metlink.org/ • Has cloud seeding ever had unexpected (or unwelcome) results? • What regulations are in place for cloud seeding? • The Met Office also has many resources on meteorology and atmospheric science, including bite-size activity packs: https:// www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/met-office-for- schools/resources-for-11-14 ACTIVITY 2 Geoengineering is a complex subject for many reasons. As well as cloud seeding, other geoengineering techniques include iron fertilisation of the oceans, or even installing ‘sun shields’ in space.

Using the article and online information, create a detailed mind-map for geoengineering. Things to think about include:

• Practicality • Regulation and control • Effectiveness • Long-term effects • Accuracy of predictions • Knock-on effects on society • Alternative solutions

Once you have finished your mind-map, write a paragraph on whether or not you think geoengineering is a credible solution for climate change, and why. Darrel Baumgardner, studying clouds in the Swiss above the city of Davos.

These are cloud spectrometers: the Droplet Measurement Technologies’ Precipitation Imaging Probe and the Combination Cloud Probe used for measuring cloud properties. WWW.FUTURUMCAREERS.COM

TEL: +44 117 909 9150

EMAIL: [email protected]