American Futurism in the Atomic Era

Futurism by Theme: Weather Control

          In popular media and news promoting scientific efforts, weather control and design was lauded as an answer to humanitarian crises. In the Cold War, the idea of weather control was both a literal goal but also a broader signifier of technology overcoming the earth’s obstacles (as seen in figure 47). Early 1950s futurists promoted the significance of progress on weather control because it signified the opportunity to end world hunger and even provide renewable and safe energy (see figure 46, for example of businesses implying investment in technology is the only way forward). On other fronts, the positives of conquering nature were promoted as a victory of national security (see figures 48 and 49. Weapons technology was intended to be used both on international threats and the natural world as a show of national strength). Government funding went to make this a reality during the Vietnam War, through attempts at manufacturing and manipulating clouds in an attempt to extend the monsoon season and influence flooding and local access to transportation. The chemical weapon Agent Orange ultimately was used, influenced as part of these efforts to control the environment. Additionally, weather technology was seen as an outcome of advancing atomic power (see figure 50).

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