Analysis of State Laws in Weather Modification: An Update

A reanalysis of state legislation regarding purposeful weather modification along the lines of the 1975 study by Farhar and Mewes was carried out to ascertain what effects the passage of time, together with an increasing awareness of technology by legislators, had on the number, composition, and comprehensiveness of these statutes. Analysis of the laws under the four headings of control, safeguards, penalties, and miscellaneous related matters not only indicated changes, but also suggested various basic components that should be part and parcel of any weather modification statute. Overall, the country is more divided on weather modification legislation today than it was in 1974—consolidation and increasing comprehensiveness being the major thrust in the West and Midwest, while decreasing comprehensiveness is evidenced in many of the weather modification laws of the eastern states.