System for facilitating cloud formation and cloud precipitation

Abstract

A system for facilitating cloud formation and cloud precipitation includes a controller and a beam emitter that is responsive to the controller. The beam emitter is configured to emit a beam to form charged particles within an atmospheric zone containing water vapor. The charged particles enhance the formation of cloud condensation nuclei such that water vapor condenses on the cloud condensation nuclei forming cloud droplets. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect a cloud status and output a signal corresponding to the cloud status to the controller.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of cloud formation, comprising:
 locating an atmospheric area of water vapor, the atmospheric area of water vapor having an altitude;   targeting the atmospheric area of water vapor;   forming charged particles within the atmospheric area of water vapor, wherein the charged particles enhance formation of cloud condensation nuclei, and wherein water vapor contained within the atmospheric area of water vapor condenses on the cloud condensation nuclei forming cloud droplets that form a cloud; and   sensing a cloud status.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming charged particles in the atmospheric area of water vapor comprises charging existing particles that already exist within the atmospheric area of water vapor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein charging existing particles comprises emitting an energy beam to deposit energy within the targeted atmospheric area of water vapor, wherein the energy ionizes the existing particles. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the energy beam is one of an ion beam, a laser beam, and a particle beam. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising adjusting an energy of the energy beam to form charged particles at a specified altitude. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising sweeping the atmospheric area of water vapor with the energy beam such that charged particles are formed at different locations within the atmospheric area of water vapor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the energy beam is flux adjustable such that the energy beam is configured to form different amounts of charged particles within the atmospheric area of water vapor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein charging existing particles includes performing field electron emission. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming charged particles in the cloud, wherein the charged particles facilitate expansion in size of the cloud droplets until the cloud droplets fall as precipitation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cloud status is at least one of a cloud density, a cloud size, a cloud albedo factor, a presence of precipitation, a presence of cloud condensation nuclei, a cloud temperature, or a presence of trace atmospheric constituents. 
     
     
         11 . A method of facilitating cloud precipitation, comprising:
 targeting a cloud comprising cloud droplets;   sensing a cloud status; and   forming charged particles within the cloud using a charge forming device, wherein the charged particles facilitate an expansion in size of the cloud droplets.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein operation of the charge forming device is responsive to the cloud status. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein targeting of the cloud is responsive to the cloud status. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming the cloud. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein forming charged particles comprises charging existing particles that already exist within the cloud with the charge forming device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the charge forming device is an energy beam configured to deposit energy within the cloud, wherein the energy ionizes existing particles. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the energy beam is one of an ion beam, a laser beam, and a particle beam. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising adjusting an energy of the energy beam to form charged particles at a specified altitude. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising sweeping the energy beam across the cloud such that charged particles are formed within the cloud. 
     
     
         20 . A method of facilitating cloud control for a customer, comprising:
 receiving a cloud related request from the customer, the request providing a target area of land;   analyzing the request;   providing a charge forming device;   forming charged particles within a target zone of an atmosphere;   sensing a cloud status; and   receiving payment from the customer.