As a rule, good weather accompanies major public holidays in the capital. And this is not a coincidence. So that the rain does not interfere with the people's fun, the clouds are dispersed on the eve.
For the first time, the dispersal of clouds was applied in Moscow in 1995 during the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The city authorities decided that this was too significant an event, and the vagaries of the weather should not darken it. Since then, the cloud dispersal method has been used regularly during mass events under the threat of weather.
To destroy unwanted clouds use special substances sprayed from aircraft. For this purpose, several reagents can be used: cement, silver iodide and dry ice. In the case of using cement, its microscopic dust in a thundercloud becomes the center of droplet formation. By itself, a raindrop cannot form; it needs a surface for condensation. Usually, plant pollen, dust, and other drops act in its role. Cement accelerates this reaction, and as a result, rain falls earlier, before reaching Moscow. Silver iodide has a similar effect. To disperse clouds, a small concentration of this substance is required, and it acts more efficiently than cement, which justifies the cost of purchasing it.
The principle of dry ice is slightly different. Sprayed onto a thundercloud, it lowers the temperature inside it, and as a result, it rains earlier. This method is also very popular.
Reagents are sprayed at least 50 kilometers before the venue of the festive event. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that there will be a cloudless sky above the walking crowds.
According to experts dealing with the dispersal of clouds, all chemicals used are absolutely harmless to people. Some environmentalists argue that the dispersal of clouds provokes showers that last for several days, but meteorologists do not support this point of view.
