http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/12/military-science-hack-stormy-skies-to-lord-over-lightning
Military Science: Hack Stormy Skies to Lord over Lightning
* By Katie Drummond Email Author
* December 18, 2009 |
* 8:37 am |
* Categories: Science!
The military’s scientific fringe has toyed with weather manipulation
and geo-engineering for years. Recently, ideas like adding iron to the
ocean, or covering the Arctic with dust, have been floated in a bid
stave off global warming. But the Pentagon’s also got a long track
record of plotting to screw with enemy climates and improve their own
operational abilities.
Now, Darpa’s got a new target for geo-hacking science, and if they can
make it work, we might see modern firearms making way for weapons of
the mythological variety. The out-there research agency is soliciting
proposals that would harness control over “the natural mechanism of
lightning initiation” by coming up with a way to launch manmade
lightning bolts, and prevent or redirect natural lightning strikes —
and their accompanying destruction.
“Lightning causes more than $1B/year in direct damages to property in
addition to the loss of lives, disruption of activities (for example,
postponement of satellite launches) and their corresponding costs,”
the solicitation notes. Until now, no one’s been too clear on how
lightning is formed or how it travels, and the fact that most of the
activity is going on inside thunderclouds doesn’t help. That’s why
Darpa wants “rocket-triggered lightning” that can be shot off from the
ground and then studied as it moves and touches down.
Once the natural mechanism of lightning formation and travel is
understood, the agency wants a plan to predict lightning strikes — and
then either stop the storms, or reroute them to a better strategic
location.
And Americans everywhere should brace themselves for stormy skies,
because Darpa wants the storm-brewing techniques to be tested
nationwide:
The United States is home to thunderstorms of various type,
duration, scale and intensity. This program would like to capitalize
on the unique geographic features of various locations across the
CONUS [Continental United States] that offer an increased likelihood
of intercepting thunderstorms that exhibit unique characteristics.
[Photo: Lawrence Livermore National Lab]
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