Laser rain

2010/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Fisika
• Hidrologia

Laser pulses could be used for cloud seeding

The emission of high-power laser rays in humid air (5 x 1012 watts) can cause the formation of water drops, according to a group of researchers from Berlin, Germany, Sweden and France in the journal Nature Photonics. The use of laser facilitates the formation of clouds and raindrops against current techniques.

The main current technique is the emission into the atmosphere of silver iodine particles or similar (sowing clouds). These particles act as condensation areas, that is, they cause the accumulation of water molecules in the environment forming raindrops. However, researchers are uncertain about the effectiveness of this system and are also concerned about its possible effects on the environment.

During trials with the new laser system, researchers have emitted 10-13 seconds of laser pulses in air at different humidity levels. And they have seen that, in conditions of high humidity, the drops before the laser pulses were emitted were twenty times more than there were.

Despite these results, researchers have stated that the experiment will take several years to be useful. Among other things, they should develop lasers of greater power and efficiency, defining the physical principles behind the observed effect.