Weather warfare

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Weather warfare is the use of weather modification techniques for military purposes.

The Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (Geneva: 18 May 1977, Entered into force: 5 October 1978) prohibits "widespread, long-lasting or severe effects as the means of destruction, damage or injury" [1]. However it has been argued that this permits "local, non-permanent changes" [2].

Prior to the Geneva Convention, the United States used weather warfare in the Vietnam War. Under the auspices of the Air Weather Service, the United States used cloud seeding over the Ho Chi Minh Trail, increasing rainfall by an estimated thirty percent during 1967 and 1968. It was hoped that the increased rainfall would reduce the rate of infiltration down the trail.^{[citation needed]}

With much less success, the United States also dropped salt on the airbase during the siege of Khe Sanh in an attempt to reduce the fog that hindered air operations.^{[citation needed]}

According to a report produced for the United States Air Force written in 1996, weather modification technologies "do not currently exist. But as they are developed, the importance of their potential applications rises rapidly." Such emerging technologies are described as "a force multiplier with tremendous power that could be exploited across the full spectrum of war-fighting environments." ^[1]

[edit] See also

• Cloud seeding
• Scalar warfare
• Weather control
• Weather Modification Operations and Research Board

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[edit] References

1. ^ Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025 by Col Tamzy, J. House, Lt Col, James B. Near, Ltc William B. Shields (usa), Maj Ronald, J. Celentano, Maj David, M. Husband, Maj Ann, E. Mercer, Maj James, E. Pugh. 1996