Report Overview

Global Weather Modification Market Size – Industry Trends & Forecast Report 2027

The global weather modification market is estimated to have reached USD 152.3 million in 2020 and is further projected to post USD 290.5 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.6% during 2021-2027 (forecast period). The global weather modification market is expected to grow at a significant pace in the future. Several factors such as falling precipitation rate, increasing threat of water scarcity are likely to be the dynamic factors behind the growth of the market in the future. Further, growth in a number of weather modification projects opens up a wealth of opportunities for the weather modification market to expand significantly in the future. The growth can be attributed to a decline in rainfall rate across the globe due to global warming and pollution.

Source: BlueWeave Consulting

Global Weather Modification Market Overview:

Cloud seeding is a weather-modification process that involves dropping chemical agents into clouds to cause rain. Silver iodide, dry ice, and even common table salt are key chemical agents that are seeded into the upper part of clouds. 

This process stimulates the precipitation process and forms rain. It is a process to alter the weather conditions that comprises injecting clouds with chemical agents to modify the climate to our will. This is mainly done by diffusing substances that affect the microphysical processes within the cloud. These ‘substances’ are either serve as cloud condensation nuclei or ice nuclei that are generally used for increasing the precipitation, or fog and hail suppression.

Global Weather Modification Market Forecast and Trends

Growth Drivers 

Decline in rainfall rate across the globe 

A decline in rainfall rate across the globe due to global warming and pollution is increasing the risk of drought conditions globally. This factor is anticipated to positively impact the growth of the global cloud seeding equipment market. The rising use of cloud seeding systems in dispersing fog and mitigate hail damage across the globe has led to strong demand for cloud seeding operations. Further, this demand is expected to robust the demand for the cloud seeding equipment market shortly. Moreover, the declining figure of crops due to scarcity of water is expected to create many opportunities for the cloud seeding equipment market to grow and diversify all across the globe.

Rising pollution and an increase in global warming 

Rising pollution and an increase in global warming are major reasons which are responsible for the decrease in precipitation rate across all regions. Increasing adoption of cloud seeding technology due to its advantages such as weather regulation and to curb pollution is also anticipated to drive the growth of the global cloud seeding equipment market. Government initiatives such as increasing the adoption of cloud seeding technologies to enhance the water level in different countries such as India is anticipated to propel the demand for cloud seeding equipment in upcoming years. Moreover, governments in countries such as India, UAE, and China are spending significantly on cloud seeding activities. 

Restraints

Silver iodide is toxic to aquatic life 

Silver iodide, the material used in cloud seeding, is toxic to aquatic life. So precipitation from seeded clouds can harm the environment. In response to these concerns, scientists have tested non-toxic replacements for silver iodide. They have found calcium chloride to be effective. The silver ion is among the most toxic of heavy metal ions, particularly to microorganisms and to fish. The ease with which Ag forms insoluble compounds, however, reduces its importance as an environmental contaminant. Ag is not likely to concentrate on harmful levels through either terrestrial or aquatic food chains.

Impact of COVID-19 in the industry

The COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to almost 100 countries around the globe with the world health organization declaring it a public health emergency. COVID-19 is affecting the global economy in three main ways: by directly affecting production and demand, by creating supply chain and market disruption, and by its financial impact on firms and financial markets. The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought effects on many aspects, like flight cancellations; travel bans and quarantines; restaurants closed; all indoor events restricted; over forty countries state of emergency declared; massive slowing of the supply chain; stock market volatility; falling business confidence, growing panic among the population, and uncertainty about future.

Global Weather Modification Market: By Mode of Seeding 

By mode of seeding, the global weather modification market is segmented into aerial cloud seeding equipment and ground-based cloud seeding equipment. Aerial cloud seeding equipment has dominated the market due to its effectiveness and the ease of covering large areas in a short period. Another reason why users prefer aerial cloud seeding equipment is due to its cost-effectiveness of this process as compared to ground-based cloud seeding, per 1000 liters produced. However, the ground-based cloud seeding equipment is also expected to grow in the forecast period primarily from developing countries. For instance, Chinese the government aims to use ground-based cloud seeding equipment in the hopes of regulating the natural water supply in China. 

Source: BlueWeave Consulting

Global Weather ModificationMarket: By Application

By Application, the market is segmented into seeding for fog dissipation, snowfall and rainfall augmentation, hail suppression, and others. Owing to the rarity of occurrences in events such as hailstorms, the need for weather modification to prevent such events is also minimal. Therefore, the dominant segment in this market is Snowfall and Rainfall Augmentation. Various countries have used this technique several times in areas where they are facing severe droughts. Fog dissipation, on the other hand, is also expected to grow during the forecast period due to growing businesses in various cities, especially in developing countries, which means an increase in the infrastructural conditions and therefore an increased number of airports. 

Global Weather Modification Market: Regional insights

The global Weather Modification market is segmented into five regions including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The global weather modification Market is projected to be concentrated in the APAC region, with China leading the world in terms of market share. China has been spending extensively on weather modification to achieve maximum independence from unpredictable rains and make its water supply. This is a part of its efforts to make its own ‘Tianhe’ or Sky River which is expected to cover 1.6 million sq. kilometers. Weather modification programs are underway in India, as well, with the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.

Source: BlueWeave Consulting

Recent Development

• On 4th December 2020: China to expand weather modification program to cover an area larger than India. China will develop the weather modification system by 2025, thanks to breakthroughs in research as well as improvements in comprehensive prevention against safety risks. In the next five years, the total area covered by artificial rain or snowfall will reach 5.5 million sq km, while over 580,000 sq km will be covered by hail suppression technologies. 

• In 4th May 2020: The Snowy Hydro 2.0 project is a step closer to going ahead after being approved by the New South Wales government, less than a month after it topped a list of 24 infrastructure projects the government wanted fast-tracked as part of its Covid-19 economic response.

Competitive landscape

Key players for the global weather modification market include Weather Modification, Inc., Cloud Seeding Technologies, RHS Consulting, Ltd., North American Weather Consultants, Inc., Seeding Operations & Atmospheric Research (SOAR), Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants LLP, Ice Crystal Engineering, MettechSpA, AF Jets SdnBhd, Snowy Hydro Limited & Other prominent players. The global weather modification market is a moderately fragmented market, with no market player holds a major market share. However, the market players themselves are limited in number. The market players in this segment have an immense need to collaborate with government officials. Optimizing the process to cut costs will eventually lead to a greater demand for the global weather modification market.

Scope of the Report

Scope of the Report

By Mode of Seeding

Ø  Aerial Cloud Seeding Equipment

o    Burn in Place Flare Rack

o    Eject able Flare Rack

Ø  Ground-Based Cloud Seeding Equipment

o    Remote Ground Based Generator

o    Manual Ground Based Generator

o    Flare Trees

By Application

Ø  Fog Dissipation

Ø  Snowfall and Rainfall Augmentation

Ø  Hail Suppression

Ø  Other Weather Modifications

By Region

Ø  Asia Pacific

Ø  North America

Ø  Europe

Ø  Middle East & Africa

Ø  Latin America