Silanes as cloud stabilizers
By: Charles C. VanValin, Paul A. Allee
Contributors: Allee, Paul A.; Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry Laboratory (U.S.); United States. Environmental Science Services Administration
Series: ESSA technical report ERL -- 105 -- 6
Publisher: Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry Laboratory
Published: 1969
Place of publication: Boulder, Colo
Language: eng
Number of pages: 19
Subjects: Cloud physics; Effect of silanes on; Weather control
Description: Silanes (alkylchlorosilicon compounds) are effective in stabilizing cloud droplets against evaporation. Among 14 compounds tested, the alkyltrichlorosilanes proved most efficient in this role. This mode of action is apparently a reaction of the silane with water at the surface of a droplet to form a silicone polymer film that lowers the water vapor pressure over the surface. The reduction of vapor pressure was demonstrated by experiments, which showed that the dewpoint is lowered in a silane-treated cloud and over a silane-treated plane water surface. Substances that are effective as cloud stabilizers were also found to be effective in preventing the nucleation of ice crystals but AgI ice nuceli in a supercooled cloud.