NOAA Issues Statement to Deny Controlling Weather Amid Conspiracy Theories
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released a statement clarifying that it does not have the ability to control the weather, in response to false claims made by Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others. The conspiracy theories suggested that the government was manipulating and controlling weather patterns and cited information from the NOAA website.
These claims prompted a swift backlash, with even President Joe Biden dismissing them as “beyond ridiculous” and “so stupid.” Other members of the GOP also attempted to shut down Greene’s assertions. In a statement issued on Wednesday, NOAA reiterated that it does not engage in weather modification activities such as cloud seeding, which is the only common weather modification practiced in the US.
Cloud seeding involves releasing substances into the air to alter the processes of clouds or storms, with the aim of enhancing precipitation. While NOAA supported research in the past to explore modifying hurricane intensity through Project STORMFURY, such efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, and the project was discontinued. The Weather Modification Reporting Act of 1972 mandates that anyone intending to conduct weather modification activities in the US must report to NOAA at least 10 days in advance.
In addition to dispelling myths about weather manipulation, NOAA also addressed claims regarding steering hurricanes and solar geoengineering. The agency emphasized that no technology exists to influence or control hurricane formation, emphasizing that hurricanes are natural phenomena. The notion of solar geoengineering was deemed not to be occurring on a large scale globally.
Meteorologists and scientists praised NOAA’s clarification, with many lamenting the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Following recent natural disasters like Hurricane Helene, both the White House and FEMA have also issued fact sheets to combat misinformation and rumours.
In conclusion, NOAA’s statement serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of relying on scientific facts and evidence-based information, especially in a time when misinformation can easily spread online. It underscores the need for public officials and individuals to be discerning consumers of information and to trust reputable sources for accurate updates on critical issues like weather patterns and natural disasters.