Utah Division of Water Resources Explores Drone-Based Cloud Seeding Technology
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- Source
- Dronelife.com
The Utah Division of Water Resources is investigating the use of drones for cloud seeding, aiming to replace traditional crewed aircraft tested from 2022 to 2025. This initiative represents a significant shift in how unmanned aircraft can operate within the atmosphere, merging aviation, meteorology, and water management.
The potential of drone technology in cloud seeding could enhance the precision and scalability of weather modification efforts. By utilizing unmanned aircraft, the Utah Division of Water Resources hopes to improve the effectiveness of cloud seeding operations, which have been in practice since the 1950s, by allowing direct access to clouds under favorable conditions.
As the drone industry evolves, the implications of drones transitioning from observational roles to active atmospheric operations will be crucial. The success of drone-based cloud seeding will depend on advancements in meteorology, measurement techniques, and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
Guest Post: Why Drones May Change How We Operate in the Atmosphere
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