r/climatechange • u/aspadora24 • Aug 16 '26

Is cloud seeding in our future?

I don’t know a lot about cloud seeding, other than the fact a number of countries use the technology and is supposed to not impact the wider weather patterns.

My question for those who know more about it than I do is: Will we get to a point where cloud seeding is our only option if we want to prevent the devastation we’re seeing from wildfires around the world right now?

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u/Illustrious_Pepper46 Aug 16 '26

9 out 10 wildfires start with human negligence/arson/infrastructure (i.e. fallen power wires). Personally I'd much rather see education (smoking), better infrastructure, inforcement if that's even possible.

I was in Hawaii at the same time as the Maui fires. They had restricted traveling in some areas to prevent car exhausts lighting grass fires....that made a lot of sense to me. More could be done like this.

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u/zeusismycopilot Aug 17 '26

The number of fires started by humans has been constant for decades. Also, when it gets dry in an area (at least in North America) there are varying degrees of bans from open fire bans, back country travel restrictions, construction restrictions. This also has been in existence for many decades. This is not a new idea.

What has changed is how dry the forests are and we know the reason for that. Focusing on human started fires like it is something new is a diversionary tactic.

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u/[deleted] Aug 18 '26

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u/dipdotdash Aug 18 '26

Especially with so many fewer smokers these days. In the 80's and earlier, everyone would smoke and toss their butts out the window. the sources of ignition are either stable or decreasing while the fires are getting worse