UK Government cloud seeding effects on solar.

While the title is what it is, you can draw your own conclusions from this article. The UK government deny any cloud seeding plans …

The UK government is investing £57 million in “geoengineering” projects, with a focus on solar radiation management, including “marine cloud brightening” experiments. These experiments involve using ships to spray saltwater into the sky to make clouds more reflective, potentially offsetting some of the effects of global warming. Outdoor trials are planned to begin as soon as 2027. 

Oddly this high cost snake oil was generally rejected by the public the government has denied any ongoing seeding,

No, the UK government does not actively conduct cloud seeding operations or have plans to do so..
As of now, the UK does not actively engage in cloud seeding. Past experiments, particularly in the 1950s, were funded by the UK government, but there is no ongoing cloud seeding activity reported.6 Sept 2024

 Met Office and UK Parliament. The UK government also denies involvement in atmospheric modification or geoengineering, including solar radiation management. 

Now if you are like me and have came into any contact with the government and its departments, you may doubt their claims and know of the “white lies” which is not lying to the public as such but its not being transparent or completely honest.

It was part of my job to monitor weather and view satellite images which gives you some insight into weather patterns, the formation of clouds and precipitation, pressure and cyclonic patterns. with solar, it has not changed too much in that the view of the clouds and times can effect installations and also performance of solar. Today being the longest day of the year is pretty important but things were not right….

It happens that the workshop here has finally had its solar upgrade, so new panels and checking the system is pretty important and as its “ours” you tend to spend a little extra time making sure its as it should be. And this requires good weather, but looking at the sky, well, it was not what you normally see.

I did check with others, even though I do have two separate arrays and the results matched, so today I had a bit more of a dive into the weather effecting solar production…. being as some of the more recent days have had the hump data, and well the past two days did not. Further more when I looked at the satellite images of the up coming weather, the actual weather did not match.

If you look at the third image above you will see the green arrow, now going to the first image you will see a small white dot, and it grows then stops. in the final image as it moves off the cost and the other small flumes continue. which would be southwest of the “short flume”.

In this image, later on the 21st of June 2025, you can see the coastal rise coming from the north of Spain, we can say this is making a witches hat, and then to the right and above, is the whiter cloud which develops from the “short flume”.

The wind speed magically timed for around mid day in the UK seems to have placed the seeding over another countries boarders so the UK government can truthfully say :
“UK government does not actively conduct cloud seeding operations“

Yes the key word here is “not actively”

Then lets look at other news….

In 2025, Spain is facing heightened concerns regarding cloud seeding, particularly due to its potential impact on neighboring regions….According to a report from Spanish weather agency El Tiempo, Morocco has allocated nearly €10 million since 2023 to boost its cloud seeding program, aiming to generate artificial rain and alleviate the structural drought affecting the country.

The goal is to increase precipitation in specific areas by up to 15% through a total of 20 cloud seeding projects.

Spain manages a cloud seeding project, the Consorcio por la Lucha Antigranizo de Aragon, to reduce rain and hail damage to crops. This project uses techniques like releasing silver iodide or other substances into clouds to encourage precipitation. 

However when AI said:
No Direct Connection:There is no evidence to suggest that Spain’s cloud seeding efforts are intentionally targeting or benefiting the UK, nor are there any reports of the UK using Spain’s cloud seeding for its own purposes. 

Somewhat technical view:

Flumes from Wetlands at Sunrise & Evaporating Dew

As the sun rises over wetlands, a fascinating atmospheric phenomenon occurs: the formation of “flumes” or “steam fog.” This isn’t smoke, but rather visible water vapor rising from the saturated ground. Simultaneously, any dew that has settled overnight also begins to evaporate, adding to the atmospheric moisture.

Here’s a breakdown of the processes involved:

1. Wetland Flumes (Steam Fog):

• Mechanism: This occurs when cool, often still, air lies over a body of water (or very wet ground) that is warmer than the air. As the sun begins to warm the land and the shallow water in the wetlands, the water evaporates. This warm, moist air then rises and immediately condenses into tiny water droplets as it mixes with the cooler air above, becoming visible as a “flume” or “steam.”
• Conditions:
  • Temperature Differential: The key is a significant difference between the water/ground temperature and the air temperature. This is most pronounced after a clear, cool night when the air has cooled considerably, and the wetland retains some residual warmth from the previous day or from the water itself.
  • High Humidity: The air immediately above the wetland is already saturated or very close to saturation due to the presence of water.
  • Still Air: Wind can quickly disperse these flumes, so calm conditions are crucial for their formation and visibility.
• “The Wetter the Land, the Longer the Flume”: This is generally true. More extensive and saturated wetlands provide a larger surface area for evaporation. This means more warm, moist air is generated, leading to denser and potentially taller flumes that are more prominent and persist for longer before dissipating. Deeper water bodies within the wetland might also retain heat better, contributing to more sustained flume production.

2. Evaporating Dew:

• Mechanism: Dew forms overnight when surfaces cool to their dew point temperature, causing water vapor in the air to condense directly onto them. As the sun rises, it warms these surfaces (grass, leaves, spiderwebs, etc.), increasing the energy of the water molecules in the dew droplets. This increased energy allows the water molecules to break free from the liquid state and become water vapor, thus evaporating the dew.
• Contribution to Atmospheric Moisture: While less dramatic than the visible flumes, the evaporation of dew contributes a significant amount of as-yet-invisible water vapor to the lower atmosphere.

How Long Would Flumes Run For? (Winter vs. Summer Comparison)

The duration of wetland flumes is highly dependent on the factors mentioned above, particularly the temperature differential and the warming effect of the sun.

Winter:

• Conditions: Winter mornings in temperate climates often provide ideal conditions for flumes. Nights are longer, allowing for more significant cooling of the air. Wetlands, even if partially frozen, can still have areas of unfrozen, relatively warmer water or saturated ground.
• Temperature Differential: The contrast between the cold air and the slightly warmer wetland water/ground is often more pronounced in winter.
• Sun’s Effect: The winter sun is lower in the sky and less intense. While it will eventually warm the air and dissipate the flumes, this process takes longer.
• Duration: Flumes in winter can often persist for 2-4 hours, sometimes longer on particularly still and cold mornings. They may gradually shrink and become less dense as the sun gains strength.

Summer:

• Conditions: Summer mornings are generally warmer, and nights are shorter.
• Temperature Differential: The difference between air and wetland temperatures is usually less extreme. While dew will still form and evaporate, the conditions for prominent steam fog are less common.
• Sun’s Effect: The summer sun rises higher and is much more intense. It quickly warms the air and the wetland surfaces.
• Duration: If flumes do form in summer, they are typically much shorter-lived, often lasting only 30 minutes to an hour, sometimes less. They quickly dissipate as the sun’s energy rapidly equalizes the temperatures and increases the air’s capacity to hold moisture without condensation.

In summary: Wetland flumes and evaporating dew are beautiful indicators of the delicate interplay between temperature, moisture, and solar radiation. While dew evaporation is a constant morning phenomenon, the dramatic “flumes” are a special treat, particularly characteristic of cooler, still mornings when the land is saturated and the air is crisp.

I would again like to point out the “short flumes” time in the Evening. and its a little whiter that the surrounding clouds. I’m sure its just a coincidence.