The EU’s mandated cloud seeding with silver iodide by DHMZ poses significant risks – here’s why

Director of the State Hydrometeorological Institute, Ivan Güttler, recently explained on his social networks that DHMZ is the only national meteorological service in the EU with a legal obligation to seed convective clouds with silver iodide to combat hail. The recent hail and heavy rain in Croatia have caused significant damage, prompting discussions about artificial weather modification.

Efforts to influence the weather and climate for the purpose of disaster mitigation and agricultural benefits have a long history in Croatia, dating back to the mid-19th century. The use of silver iodide to seed storm clouds and prevent hail has been a method employed since 1945, despite limited scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness.

The idea of defense against hail using radar and rocket seeding originated in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and spread to Eastern Europe, including Croatia. While the DHMZ has been carrying out operational hail defense for over 40 years, it is not in line with global standards, and its effectiveness remains questionable and unproven.

Climatologist Ivan Güttler has raised concerns about the potential dangers of using silver iodide to influence large storm clouds. Citing research that suggests an increase in storm energy and hail size due to seeding, Güttler has called for a reevaluation of the hail defense system. Despite legal obligations, the DHMZ’s methods have been criticized for their lack of scientific backing.

The Act on the system of defense against hail, which came into force in 2001, entrusts the DHMZ with operational hail defense in northern Croatia. However, the effectiveness and necessity of this method continue to be debated, especially in light of concerns raised by experts like Ivan Güttler.