By Guardian - Arwa Mahdawi - Thu 10 Oct 2024 11.11 BST

If people knew more about geoengineering, they might believe Marjorie Taylor Greene’s latest theory

Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has earned the dubious honour of being one of the most unhinged US politicians in recent memory, has an important message for the American people: they control the weather. Last week, in the wake of the devastation from Hurricane Helene, the far-right representative from Georgia tweeted the following: “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.”

Who is they? Good question. Greene might have meant the non-binary deep state that secretly controls the world. Or, considering she has previously insinuated that California wildfires were started by energy companies, in conjunction with the Rothschilds, using a space laser, in order to facilitate high-speed rail projects, she might have meant Jewish people. She certainly won’t elaborate. She’s been asked to clarify her antisemitic “Jewish space lasers” comment plenty of times and likes to tell reporters to “fuck off”.

It’s also possible that Greene meant the government. (Of which, of course, she is a representative – something she often seems to forget.) Before her they post, Greene posted a map of the south-eastern US with the message: “This is a map of hurricane affected areas with an overlay of electoral map by political party shows how hurricane devastation could affect the election.”

In other words: Greene seemingly thinks that the Democratic party engineered a devastating hurricane to wipe out voters in Republican areas so that Kamala Harris will win the election. Very normal stuff.

Alas, Greene is not the only person spreading ridiculous conspiracy theories about Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton being engineered by the government. Social media is awash with them. I was disturbed to see an acquaintance from my elementary school, who unfortunately went down an anti-vaxxer conspiracy theory rabbit hole during Covid, post on Facebook that Hurricane Helene had been created by BlackRock because it bought shares in a lithium mining company in Asheville, North Carolina. How do you reason with someone who believes this sort of nonsense?

You don’t, is the simple answer. Having arguments with random individuals who have drunk a lot of conspiracy Kool-Aid is rarely productive. What’s more productive, I think, is understanding where these ideas come from. They come, of course, from people feeling powerless and excluded. But, more specifically, I think these particular conspiracies about man-made hurricanes stem from the fact that the media hasn’t done a very good job of explaining geoengineering.

The most potent conspiracy theories are layers of lies wrapped around a tiny grain of truth: something factual that people like Greene can point to and say, look, we’re not crazy. The US government obviously did not engineer Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton. You cannot control hurricanes. But the grain of truth, in this instance, is that people can intentionally impact the weather to some degree.

Countries around the world have been experimenting with weather modification techniques for decades now: a process known as climate engineering or geoengineering. And, as the climate crisis intensifies, geoengineering efforts are heating up. Arid countries like Saudi Arabia, for example, are pouring enormous amounts of money into weather-modification programs that might combat desertification.

In many ways, geoengineering is a lot like AI: a transformative but poorly understood technology that has the potential to change the world for the better if harnessed correctly and do a lot of damage if it isn’t. It’s also an umbrella term that encompasses various different concepts. Some of these concepts, like removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, are fairly uncontroversial. Others, however, are a lot more experimental or just plain irresponsible.

It is a great gift to conspiracy theorists that many past weather-modification experiments have been conducted in secret or have been dangerously maverick. In 1952, for example, there was a terrible flash flood in Britain that killed 35 people and was logged as “the hand of God”. In 2001, however, a BBC Radio 4 investigation unearthed documents that suggested an experiment in artificial rainmaking, Operation Cumulus, conducted by the Ministry of Defence for future military advantage, may have been implicated. There is no clear evidence of this, to be clear, but the project did end after the floods.

Similarly, there have been attempts by the US government to weaponize the weather via cloud seeding: a method of artificially stimulating precipitation by adding small particles of substances like silver iodide to clouds. During the Vietnam war, there was a secret five-year cloud-seeding experiment called Operation Popeye, which was aimed at lengthening the monsoon season in Vietnam to make certain truck routes inoperable. It was a failure.

Attempting to weaponize the weather, I should be clear, is very much illegal. In 1977, the United Nations banned the military or hostile use of environmental modification techniques through the Environmental Modification Convention. But with historical examples like Operation Cumulus and Operation Popeye, you can see how modern-day conspiracy theories about Democratic-made hurricanes wiping out Republicans can flourish, can’t you?

Indeed, even writing about these examples is tricky. You don’t want to inadvertently provide fuel for conspiracy theorists. But, again, it can not be stressed enough that these conspiracy theories are a very clear signal that the media needs to be doing a better job of informing the public about geoengineering. There needs to be far more investment in cultivating science writers who can break down these complicated topics for public consumption.

More broadly, there needs to be more public input into the future of environmental modification techniques – just as there needs to be more public input into how AI is rolled out. A number of geoengineering startups are taking community engagement seriously: holding town hall meetings to address concerns about the techniques they’re using and build trust.

But we need to go beyond these piecemeal efforts and ensure the public has a direct say in how geoengineering develops and how it is regulated. And it must be regulated: geoengineering tech bros should not be allowed to “move fast and break things”. Otherwise, all future progress will be tainted by conspiracy theorists insisting that a mysterious they controls the very air we all breathe.

Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian US columnist

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HUMAN-CREATED CLIMATE UNBALANCE

By AI-ChatGPT4o - 04 October. 2024

In conclusion, while cloud seeding and other weather modification practices offer potential solutions to water resource management and disaster mitigation challenges, their implementation carries inherent risks and uncertainties. The documented instances of unintended consequences, such as severe storms, floods, and extreme temperatures, underscore the need for cautious and responsible use of these technologies.

Over thousands of years, Earth's climate has followed a natural equilibrium, driven by intricate atmospheric, oceanic, and biological processes. However, human activities, particularly in the last century, have begun to interfere with this balance. Practices such as large-scale cloud seeding, deforestation, and industrial emissions have contributed to a destabilization of weather systems. The principles of Chaos Theory, particularly the Butterfly Effect, help illustrate how small, seemingly insignificant changes in a complex system—like a slight atmospheric alteration—can cascade into large, unpredictable shifts in weather patterns.

The Butterfly Effect, named for the idea that a butterfly flapping its wings can set off a chain of events leading to massive changes elsewhere, encapsulates the delicate balance of Earth’s climate system. Human interventions in atmospheric conditions, however well-intentioned, have led to ripple effects that manifest in more extreme and frequent weather events. These disruptions have contributed to the climate’s overall imbalance, further exacerbated by actions like cloud seeding that amplify the forces of chaos within an already fragile system.

As we navigate the complexities of weather modification, it is imperative to prioritize scientific rigor, ethical integrity, and environmental sustainability. Robust research, stringent regulation, and transparent communication are essential pillars for ensuring the safe and responsible deployment of weather modification techniques. If not approached with caution, these interventions could continue to tip the natural systems even further into chaos.

Moreover, we must recognize the interconnectedness of weather systems and the delicate balance of the natural world. Any intervention in atmospheric processes must be guided by a profound respect for the environment and a commitment to protecting the well-being of ecosystems and communities. A failure to understand or respect this balance could result in further pushing climate systems into states of unpredictability, making the future even more uncertain.

By embracing a holistic approach that integrates scientific expertise, ethical principles, and stakeholder engagement, we can harness the potential of weather modification while minimizing risks and maximizing benefits. As Chaos Theory teaches us, small changes can lead to vast consequences. Therefore, we must tread carefully, mindful of the profound responsibility we bear as stewards of our planet’s climate systems. The need for a balance between human intervention and respect for nature’s complexity has never been greater.

This version brings together the core points about weather modification, Chaos Theory, and the Butterfly Effect, emphasizing how human actions have upset the planet’s natural climate balance.

The climate system is an intricate network composed of many interconnected elements, each playing a vital role in maintaining the planet’s overall balance. Among these are the horizontal and vertical wind systems, the oceanic currents like the Gulf Stream, and the various effects of solar activity, including normal sunrays and sunspot explosions.

Wind Systems: Horizontal and vertical wind systems work together to distribute heat and moisture around the globe. Horizontal winds, such as the trade winds and jet streams, move air masses across the planet, influencing weather patterns and helping regulate global temperatures. Vertical winds, including updrafts and downdrafts, play a crucial role in the formation of storms, rainfall, and cloud dynamics. These wind systems are deeply interconnected and work in harmony to maintain atmospheric equilibrium.

Ocean Currents: The Gulf Stream is one of the most critical components of the Earth’s climate system. This powerful Atlantic Ocean current transports warm water from the Gulf of Mexico toward Europe, significantly influencing the climate of the North Atlantic region. By moving warm water and distributing heat, the Gulf Stream helps moderate temperatures in coastal regions and drives large-scale oceanic circulation patterns, which in turn impact weather and climate globally.

Solar Activity: Solar radiation, including normal sunrays, is the primary energy source driving Earth’s climate. It influences surface temperatures, ocean currents, and wind systems. However, variations in solar activity, such as sunspot explosions, can also impact climate conditions. Sunspot explosions, or solar flares, can cause temporary increases in solar radiation, affecting the Earth’s magnetosphere and atmospheric conditions. While these solar variations are part of the natural cycle, they interact with other climate systems and can contribute to shifts in weather patterns.

All of these components—wind systems, ocean currents, and solar influences—are tightly coordinated in maintaining a dynamic balance. However, human interventions, including cloud seeding and large-scale environmental disruptions, can interfere with these natural processes, destabilizing the climate system.