<p>Suppose we spot an Atlantic hurricane very early. How much energy should we expend to alter its track:</p>

<ul>
<li>with nuclear detonations (let's forget about the side effects for the moment)?</li>
<li>with a large orbital geostationary mirror illuminating say, the subtropical ridge?</li>
<li>by any other means (microwave heating in the troposphere?)</li>
</ul>

<h2>References on these and other methods from the NOAA Hurricane FAQ:</h2>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5a.html">Silver iodide</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5b.html">Aerosols/surface modification</a></li>
<li><p><a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5c.html">Nukes</a>, specifically:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A fully developed hurricane can release heat energy at a rate of  $5-20\centerdot10^{13}$ watts and converts less than 10% of the heat into the mechanical energy of the wind. The heat release is equivalent to a 10-megaton nuclear bomb exploding every 20 minutes. According to the 1993 World Almanac, the entire human race used energy at a rate of $10^{13}$ watts in 1990, a rate less than 20% of the power of a hurricane. </p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p><a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5d.html">Water absorbing substances</a></p></li>
<li><a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5e.html">Surface cooling with icebergs</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5f.html">Expending hurricane's energy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5g.html">High altitude particulate seeding</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5h.html">Hygroscopic particle seeding</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5i.html">Miscellaneous means</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>Why the above-mentioned FAQ isn't enough</h2>

<ul>
<li>It's incomplete (doesn't include heating/illumination from satellites)</li>
<li>Doesn't include a fully-developed nuclear scenario</li>
<li><strong>Has no formula linking time since hurricane formation, energy applied and cross-track difference at landfall on the East Coast</strong></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-12T12:57:11.200Z
Sorry, this question is way too broad. It is also phrased badly: *How much energy?* and then you list all kinds of scenarios for which the amount of **energy** would be the same. Maybe you meant 'effort' but that isn't easily quantifiable.
Jan Doggen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-27T15:22:57.110Z
Related question: http://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/2300/how-could-humans-alter-storm-intensity-or-direction-other-than-cloud-seeding
milancurcic
<meteorology>
How much energy is needed to alter the path of a hurricane?
Deer Hunter
# How much energy is needed to alter the path of a hurricane?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-27)

Suppose we spot an Atlantic hurricane very early. How much energy should we expend to alter its track:

* with nuclear detonations (let's forget about the side effects for the moment)?
* with a large orbital geostationary mirror illuminating say, the subtropical ridge?
* by any other means (microwave heating in the troposphere?)

## References on these and other methods from the NOAA Hurricane FAQ:

* [Silver iodide](http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5a.html)
* [Aerosols/surface modification](http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5b.html)
* [Nukes](http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5c.html), specifically:

  > A fully developed hurricane can release heat energy at a rate of $5-20\centerdot10^{13}$ watts and converts less than 10% of the heat into the mechanical energy of the wind. The heat release is equivalent to a 10-megaton nuclear bomb exploding every 20 minutes. According to the 1993 World Almanac, the entire human race used energy at a rate of $10^{13}$ watts in 1990, a rate less than 20% of the power of a hurricane.
* [Water absorbing substances](http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5d.html)
* [Surface cooling with icebergs](http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5e.html)
* [Expending hurricane's energy](http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5f.html)
* [High altitude particulate seeding](http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5g.html)
* [Hygroscopic particle seeding](http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5h.html)
* [Miscellaneous means](http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C5i.html)

## Why the above-mentioned FAQ isn't enough

* It's incomplete (doesn't include heating/illumination from satellites)
* Doesn't include a fully-developed nuclear scenario
* **Has no formula linking time since hurricane formation, energy applied and cross-track difference at landfall on the East Coast**

**Tags:** meteorology

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Related question: http://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/2300/how-could-humans-alter-storm-intensity-or-direction-other-than-cloud-seeding  
> **username_1**: Sorry, this question is way too broad. It is also phrased badly: *How much energy?* and then you list all kinds of scenarios for which the amount of **energy** would be the same. Maybe you meant 'effort' but that isn't easily quantifiable.  

---

## 0 answers

