The Use of Asphalt Coatings to Increase Rainfall

Abstract

Calculations are presented which suggest that useful amounts of rainfall might be produced economically in and regions near seas or lakes. The proposed technique involves the coating of a large area with asphalt to produce thermal updrafts which increase the sea breeze circulation and promote condensation. Calculations based upon previously developed models of the air flow over heated islands suggest that 2 to 3 acres of arable land could be produced per acre of asphalt and that the cost of the rainfall produced would he of the order of 3¢ per 1000 gal or $9.00 per acre ft. The sensitivity of these conclusions to changes in the various assumptions involved in the calculations is discussed.