Planetary Weather Control System

Tommy J · Post by **Tommy J** » 2004-12-21 03:01pm

I have having a debate elsewhere about the concept of a Planetary Weather Control System as suggested is possible on Trek. The more I think about this concept it seems simply impossible.

In DS9 it is suggested the Riza's complete ecosystem is altered in such a way to create a 'paradise' of sunshine and perfectly warm weather. Then Worf cuts the power and the planet reverts back to its original weather patterns, being a giant rain forest.

If we/Fed has the technology to alter the weather on a global scale wouldn't this alter the planets ecosystem completely? You couldn't flip the switch and have it revert back.

I can see that perhaps a advanced weather control system could be created to prevent or slow down severe weather but not completely change the biology of a planet.

Am I missing something?

drachefly · Post by **drachefly** » 2004-12-21 04:17pm

It could be that the whole-planet-paradise is very unstable, and in the absence of guiding forces would decay into chaos. How long did it take in the episode? We might be able to get a Lyapunov exponent if we can quantify the later stages (the early ones would probably be undetectable).

Tommy J · Post by **Tommy J** » 2004-12-21 04:27pm

drachefly wrote:It could be that the whole-planet-paradise is very unstable, and in the absence of guiding forces would decay into chaos. How long did it take in the episode? We might be able to get a Lyapunov exponent if we can quantify the later stages (the early ones would probably be undetectable).

Very quickly. It isn't stated exactly but implied that the changes occured almost within 1-2 hours. The planet Riza de-stablized back to a rain forest almost immediately from 100% sunshine.

Seems improbable to me-- ast least the whole process.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-12-21 04:56pm

Perhaps, at least in the case of Risa, they where only perfecting the weather around the resort areas and using whatever weather control device they have to 'hold' the rain at an acceptable distance during the day. No doubt some is allowed to pass through during the night so that everything doesn't shrivel up and die. Thus when the weather control failed, those waiting rainstorms just started moving and blew right in, with a strong wind some storm clouds over or at the horizon could blow in within a few hours. Just because they might be manipulating the weather on a global scale after all, doesn't mean there actually making it perfect everywhere at all times.

Tommy J · Post by **Tommy J** » 2004-12-21 05:16pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:Perhaps, at least in the case of Risa, they where only perfecting the weather around the resort areas and using whatever weather control device they have to 'hold' the rain at an acceptable distance during the day. No doubt some is allowed to pass through during the night so that everything doesn't shrivel up and die. Thus when the weather control failed, those waiting rainstorms just started moving and blew right in, with a strong wind some storm clouds over or at the horizon could blow in within a few hours. Just because they might be manipulating the weather on a global scale after all, doesn't mean there actually making it perfect everywhere at all times.

True about the entire planet. The person I was debating with suggested that via the use of a Weather Modification Network, a paradise could be made planet wide. I disagreed that such a concept was terrible pesudo science for the aforementioned reasons.