Apparatus for controlling atmospheric humidity

Abstract

An apparatus for modification of the atmospheric humidity profile via creating updrafts of moistened air is provided. The apparatus is based on a capacitor of a Van der Graaf generator which, with the aid of air ionizers comprising a source of alpha particles, produces a unipolar atmospheric electric current of a magnitude sufficient to achieve selective moisture transport. Operating such an apparatus augments or creates a moisture updraft, which may lead to the formation of new clouds and/or an increase in supersaturation in existing clouds, thus enhancing the development of precipitation and/or facilitating the inflow of the evaporated moisture from a water reservoir inland.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a Van der Graaf generator having a capacitor and a charging engine; and   one or more air ionizers disposed in the vicinity of the capacitor.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more air ionizers are disposed on the surface of the capacitor. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elevation distance of the capacitor is approximately less or equal to an ion propagation distance of the ion ionizers. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more air ionizers are disposed along the bottom half of the capacitor. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a ventilation hole is positioned substantially near the top of the capacitor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising at least one fresh air conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more air ionizers comprise one or more sources of high energy particles. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the source of high energy particles comprises  241 Am,  239 Pu, or  238 Pu. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a source of renewable energy. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein edges of one or more air ionizers are covered by non-conductive material. 
     
     
         11 . A method of modifying atmospheric moisture transport, the method comprising: operating at least one apparatus of  claim 1 .