Project Cirrus: The Controversial Attempt to Control Hurricanes


In the years following World War II, the U.S. government embarked on an ambitious project to harness the power of weather and potentially control the destructive force of hurricanes. This endeavor, known as Project Cirrus, was a joint effort between the U.S. Army Signal Corps, the Office of Naval Research, and the U.S. Air Force. [1]

The origins of Project Cirrus can be traced back to the work of meteorologist Vincent Schaefer at General Electric. In 1946, Schaefer discovered that adding dry ice to supercooled clouds could induce precipitation, leading to experiments in cloud seeding. [3][4]

The government quickly took notice of this technology and its potential military applications, such as dispersing fog or inducing rainfall.
Project Cirrus was officially launched in 1947 with the goal of studying weather modification and exploring the possibility of weakening or even dissipating hurricanes. [1][3]

The project was overseen by a steering committee composed of representatives from the military branches, with scientists Irving Langmuir and Vincent Schaefer serving as consultants. [1]

The first major test of Project Cirrus came on October 13, 1947, when researchers attempted to seed a hurricane off the coast of Georgia with 80 kilograms of dry ice. [3]

The plan was to disrupt the storm's structure and cause it to dissipate harmlessly out at sea. However, the results were disastrous - instead of weakening, the hurricane suddenly veered westward and slammed into the Georgia coast, causing $2 million in damage. [3]

The failed experiment sparked outrage among local residents, who blamed the government for the destruction and threatened lawsuits. [3][4]

General Electric, fearing legal liability, quickly withdrew its support for the project. While subsequent investigations found that the storm's path was likely unrelated to the cloud seeding, the public relations fallout effectively shut down Project Cirrus for several years. [4]

Despite the setback, the government remained interested in weather modification and launched a new initiative called Project Stormfury in the 1960s, which continued experimenting with hurricane seeding.[4]

These particular efforts were also plagued by inconclusive results and public skepticism.
Project Cirrus and its successors allegedly did not achieve their goal of controlling hurricanes, though the research conducted provided valuable insights into storm behavior and contributed to the development of modern meteorology. [4]

These controversial attempts to manipulate the weather also highlighted the risks and unintended consequences of such endeavors. The legacy of Project Cirrus serves as a cautionary tale about the hubris of trying to control the forces of nature. [1]

\ 1) General Electric History Of Project Cirrus July 1952 - Alachua County.

\ 3) Benchmarks: October 13, 1947: A disaster with Project Cirrus - Earth Magazine

\4) Climate Control - Air & Space Magazine

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Pub: 12 Apr 2024 17:50 UTC
Edit: 03 Jun 2024 23:47 UTC
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