Microbes Controlling the Weather?

ammonoid writes "The BBC news website reported this story about the possibility that the biologically selfish interests of microbes in the atmosphere to reproduce may be partly responsible for the formation of clouds, and observed patterns of rainfall. "

could be usefull

[FreakCERS]

An interesting aspect could be if we were able to controle these microbes, or perhaps geneticaly engineered ones, and use them to generate "rainfall on command"...
For instance if a forestfire erupts, we could just "summon" our small allies, and extinguish the flames with little or even no risc for human lives.
(Not that forestfires are to be put out, as they are quite good for the environment, but you get the point)

Re:could be usefull

[FreakCERS]

duly noted... how would we survive without PowerPC's?

Re:could be usefull

[SpdyVkng]

AFAIK forest fires are natural. Our fight to control forestfires makes forests less vital. A good and normal forestfire gives room for a different flora and fauna than which a forest has.

Our continual fight against forest fires makes it easier for future fires to gain catastrophic proportions. (Ie. we protect a lot of land against forest fires; a few dry years come, and wooosh, a lot more burns than if the normal cycle of events were allowed.)

Paul

Re:could be usefull

[DegenerateMatter]

The poster states
>(Not that forestfires are to be put out, as they >are quite good for the environment, but you get >the point)

I think he was simply presenting a case where weather control could be beneficial. The "useful" nature of forest fires is tangentional to the argument.

At any rate, it could still be handy if said fire was threatening inhabited areas, or what have you. Can't let those Californian towns keep going up in flames right after we dig them out of the mudslides.

possible crazytalk scenarios

[DrSkwid]

The microbes started life on earth after drifting here from across space on a comet this making the microbes god and heaven is indeed in the clouds. The image of god is water. Man, made from water, is literally made in the image of god. (mind you nothing special about man, so are cucumbers).

er!

[seann]

Microsoft controlling the weather?!! oh..microbes.

Meh.. It *COULD* happen.

Re:er!

[Drishmung]

Would that be the BSOD---Blue Sky Of Death---then?

Re:er!

[Walt Dismal]

Microsoft Weather Control, Vers. 1.0
Ooops! We forgot to block the weather hackers?
No wonder Miami is snowed in.

Not particularly surprising.

[cp99]

Given that there is huge amounts of bacteria just about anywhere, it's not too surprising that they can have a significant effect of the world. Especially a system like the weather which is controlled by many different interplaying forces.

Re:Not particularly surprising.

[ammonoid]

I take it by pseudoscience you are refering to the Gaia hypothesis. If not you may disregard my reply. While I don't agree with the strong hypothesis of planet Earth as a single "superorganism", the notion that the biosphere has been shaped by a feedback between selection on organisms, and the effects that their metabolic products have on geological systems, is entirely reasonsable. The shift in atmospheric oxygen levels can be linked clearly to the rise of cyanobacteria, which produced oxygen as a by-product of their metabolic activities. This gave rise to ozone, that handy compound that stops UV playing too much pinball with metazoan DNA.

Re:Not particularly surprising.

[cp99]

No, my sig is unrelated to this post (it comes more from my experiences with debating creationists both online and off). I'm not superfamilar with the Gaia hypothesis (but I have brought Lovelocks autobiography - and will even get round to reading it one day). But, as I understand, the basic tenets of it have been incorportated into mainstream science (your example of O2 in the atmosphere is a good one), however most scientists don't like the name (which personally doens't bother me - but I don't make the rules).

influence isn't nescessarily control

[hokanomono]

The article does not explain how microbes can control clouds, it just gives an idea of why they would "want" to do that. The question whether it is possible or not, seems to be denied in favor of faith to the putative omnipotence and wisdom of the evolution. For me, as a physicist, causa finalis (i.e. the intention) is the least interesting of the 4 causae.

As you pointed out correctly many species have an important influence on the planet. I guess in most cases the influence of a specific species on it's environment is rather counterproductive to it's survival. E.g. animals eating up their food ressources, plants producing too much oxygen... However they have survived (if they have survived), because their influence was not yet strong enough or it was compensated by other species.

This is an old theory

[nucal]

The boy nodded his understanding. "Can I ask you something?" The Jedi Master nodded. "What are midi-chlorians?"

Wind whipped at Qui-Gon's long hair, blowing strands of it across his strong face. "Midi-chlorians are microscopic life-forms that reside within the cells of all living things and communicate with the Force."

"They live inside of me?" the boy asked. "In your cells." Qui-Gon paused. "We are symbionts with the midi-chlorians."

"Symbi-what?"

"Symbionts. Life-forms living together for mutual advantage. Without the midi-chlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. Our midi-chlorians continually speak to us, Annie, telling us the will of the Force."

"They do?" Qui-Gon cocked one eyebrow. "When you learn to quiet your mind, you will hear them speaking to you."

Anakin thought about it for a moment, then frowned. "I don't understand."

Qui-Gon smiled, and his eyes were warm and secretive. "With time and training, Annie, you will."

Re:This is an old theory

[-douggy]

You-sa people gonna get wet?

Terraform mars

[towaz]

If this is true why not dump a load of microbes on mars.....If they come in contact with water with a little help they could start rain...causing atmosphere ect ect.

also probable killing anything that might exist though. ;-)