The Quest for Rain in Midland, Texas
On August 17, 1891, the skies above Midland, Texas, thundered with dynamite blasts in the first government-funded rainmaking experiment. Led by Robert G. Dyrenforth, a team of enthusiasts armed with explosives, kites, and balloons set out to prove that loud concussions could force clouds to release rain.
A Theory Rooted in War
Edward Powers, a Civil War general, theorized that noise from battles could agitate clouds into producing rain, an idea he documented in his book War and the Weather. Historical figures like Napoleon and even Plutarch had speculated similarly. In 1891, after Senator Charles B. Farwell secured $7,000 in funding, Dyrenforth brought this theory to life.
Explosions and Skepticism
At a Texas ranch, Dyrenforth’s team launched explosives, claiming success when rain followed. However, meteorologists, including team member George Curtis, dismissed the results as coincidental, noting that storms were already forecast. Subsequent experiments in El Paso and other cities also yielded inconclusive results.
The End of the Era
By the 1910s, cereal magnate Charles W. Post conducted similar experiments in Texas but failed to achieve definitive results. While the concussion theory was abandoned, these efforts paved the way for modern weather modification, including cloud seeding.
On August 17, 1891, explosions shook the skies over Midland, Texas, as Robert G. Dyrenforth led a government-funded experiment to make rain using dynamite, balloons, and kites. The bold mission aimed to force rain from clouds through noise-induced agitation.🧵1/4👇 pic.twitter.com/JQRi0QWLlS
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