Rainmaker partners with Atmo to squeeze more rain from clouds

Rainmaker, a pioneering startup in cloud seeding, has announced a collaboration with Atmo, a cutting-edge AI-driven meteorology company, as exclusively revealed to TechCrunch. This partnership brings together two entities that operate at different stages of weather manipulation: Atmo specializes in analyzing atmospheric patterns to predict weather phenomena, while Rainmaker focuses on utilizing this data to maximize precipitation from clouds. Under the terms of their collaboration, Atmo will deploy its advanced deep learning algorithms to assist Rainmaker in pinpointing clouds suitable for seeding. Additionally, Atmo will provide its clients with access to Rainmaker’s cloud seeding services, which are executed using small drones. In return, Rainmaker will share insights from its proprietary radar technology to evaluate the rainfall generated by the targeted clouds. Despite recent scrutiny, including unfounded conspiracy theories suggesting Rainmaker's operations contributed to flooding in Texas, experts clarify that such claims lack scientific backing. Bob Rauber, a noted professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois, emphasized that while cloud seeding can influence precipitation, the effect is negligible compared to the vast amounts of water produced by large storms. For instance, a documented case in Idaho indicated that cloud seeding resulted in an additional 186 million gallons of rain, a figure that is insignificant next to the trillions of gallons generated by major weather events. Cloud seeding is a common practice in the Western United States, mainly aimed at enhancing snowpack and increasing summer reservoir supplies. While it is also employed in areas such as West Texas to generate additional rainfall from summer storms, the outcomes have been limited. According to the West Texas Weather Modification Association, which has previously collaborated with Rainmaker, cloud seeding in the region has yielded approximately a 15% increase in rainfall, translating to about two additional inches annually. However, Rauber pointed out that the cloud types prevalent over West Texas may not react as effectively to seeding compared to those in mountainous areas, further complicating the results during rainstorms that are already predisposed to produce significant precipitation.