Will Scientists Discover a Way to Change Weather Patterns?

On August 5^th, The Discovery Channel aired a show about redirecting hurricanes. The program discussed different methods studied and even some that have been attempted in real life. In the 1960's, American Scientists studied the affect of depositing material into the outer rim of a hurricane. This was done to attempt to weaken its strength. According to Discovery Channels program, this group tried twice to weaken a hurricane. It seemed that they were successful in decreasing the wind speed by fifteen miles per hour. After more study they determined that they didn't affect the storm and that the drop in speed was a natural occurring phenomenon in hurricanes.

After hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, scientists decided to study the possibility of weakening hurricanes once again. What if the United States government had the ability to affect the weather, or to at least weaken major storms? There are many questions that this ability would raise. Is it ethical to alter the weather? What effects would this have on the environment?

What are some of the possibilities? One possible alteration to a hurricane would be to weaken it. Is it worth risking the lives of the personnel that it would take to only slightly reduce the strength of a storm? What would this do to the local environment? How do hurricanes affect our environment? Do they do any good for it? What would happen if they stopped? What would happen if they did not produce the same amount of energy?

Maybe the toughest question to ask is what if we could change the direction of a hurricane? One theory provided in Discovery Channels program was to divert the direction of a hurricane by creating a warm front on the opposite coast of the continent. The scenario given was of a hurricane heading towards America's East Coast. Scientists would proceed to create "good" weather on the west coast creating a high-pressure system that would travel the length of North America and push the hurricane, a low-pressure system, away. According to the program, scientists feel this is very possible.

Scientists on the show also stated that this artificial high-pressure system would be identical to a naturally accruing system and therefore would have no bad effects on the environment. Is this possible? Can human beings create a weather system and have no bad affect? The ability to create types of weather, normal like weather, brings up another question? If we can, then why don't we? Why only create artificial weather during the most extreme conditions? If there is a drought, then can we create rain? We can influence rain. That technology has existed for some time. According to this program, we should be able to create very pleasant weather too. Why don't we? Economies, ecosystems, social events, and major gatherings all depend on adequate weather. Why don't we ensure that it is there at that time? The reason is because we are concerned of the consequences.

If the technology to accurately alter the weather as desired existed, then who would have the right to use it? The one with the most money? The one with the most power and influence? What if the laborers needed good weather to work? What if farmers needed rain so their crops could grow? Which citizen has the right and precedence to decide what the weather of the day is to be? Who is most important?

Same question for the redirection of a hurricane or typhoon. Who has the right not to get hit by a hurricane? If the United States has the ability to move a hurricane, who would suffer then? Does it go south to Mexico or South America? Does it go to Europe? Would this be fair? If the US government had the ability to protect its people from hurricanes, would it be demanded by those same people to use that technology? If defending my family from a burglar meant causing damage to my neighbor's house, would I be excused? If the United States saved millions of lives and dollars of its own citizens, only to have the hurricane kill hundreds of Mexican lives, or Canadian lives, would the world understand? Would it be ok to choose who was struck by a hurricane and who wasn't? Would we take turns each year? Would there be a lottery system? Do we let a hurricane happen now that we had the tools to stop it? Which is worse, do nothing and let nature take its course? Or make a choice that saves many but condemns others? These are tough decisions to make. Can we make them? Should we make them? Will the weather go to the highest bidder?