AMS Statements on Climate Modification

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) recently released a statement on cloud seeding, concluding that "Continued effort is needed toward improved understanding of the risks and benefits of planned modification through well-designed and well-supported research programs." This position is consistent with the 2009 policy statement on geoengineering adopted by AMS, which declared "it is prudent to consider geoengineering's potential benefits, to understand its limitations, and to avoid ill-considered deployment." To this end, AMS called for expanded research on climate engineering and assessment of policy options.

AMS certifies meteorologists in the US, providing a closer link between scientists and the general public than what exists between climatologists and society at large. People are familiar with meteorologists, and AMS support for research on geoengineering and other forms of climate modification may enhance public openness to geoengineering, at least at the margins.