The regional dynamic created by air pollution, more specifically the sooty kind, has played a significant role in causing quiet periods with regards to hurricanes and other natural disasters. Global warming has also led to more natural disasters, but air pollution has a more localized effect.
Climate scientists have found that the hurricane droughts in the Atlantic basin from the 1970s through 1994 were caused by pollution and smog, significantly in Europe. The smog changed the behavior of the Sahara Desert, located south of Europe, which kills hurricanes with sand and dust.
In the next 100 years, it's possible that humans will be able to control weather to benefit the planet. Simple changes in city infrastructure, such as using lighter colors, can already have a significant impact on the urban heat island effect.
The Catatumbo Lightning in Venezuela offers a spectacular show of lightning with accompanying strong surface winds around 300 nights a year, due to the El Nino phenomenon bringing dry wind in. About a quarter of the population of Venezuela lives around the area.
Air particulate pollution intensifies storms in wet areas and causes decreased rainfall in drier areas, while also causing high temperatures and low humidity in high pressure zones. The pollution also blocks tropical cyclones that are normally brought to California.
In this episode, the hosts discuss the controversial practice of cloud seeding and the limited capabilities of weather modification. While some people believe in the effectiveness of cloud seeding, others remain skeptical. Despite efforts to understand and combat drought, technological limitations prevent us from controlling natural weather phenomena like El Nino or La Nina.