Abstract

A navigable vessel for use in reducing the intensity of a tropical cyclone having an eye located over an ocean comprises a plurality of artificial snow-making devices aboard the vessel, at least one pump coupled to the devices and accessible to a body of water in which the vessel is floating for supplying the devices with water for making artificial snow, and a power source coupled to the devices to operate the devices in concert for producing a substantially uninterrupted supply of artificial snow. The artificial snow-making devices have discharge nozzles oriented to project the artificial snow away from the vessel onto or above the water adjacent the vessel.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01G 15/00 - Devices or methods for influencing weather conditions
• B05B 12/12 - Arrangements for controlling deliveryArrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material discharged, of ambient medium or of target responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature
• B05B 17/04 - Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by any other group of this subclass operating with special methods
• B63B 25/08 - Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing or trimmingVessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid
• B63B 35/44 - Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• F25C 3/04 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installationsProducing artificial snow for sledging or ski trailsProducing artificial snow

Abstract

A procedure for moderating the intensity of a hurricane in regions of the seas that are host to the oil and gas industries is described, using the Gulf of Mexico as an example of such a region, and snow-making machines as the instruments for carrying out the procedure. These machines are carried on moving platforms that follow the hurricane and on fixed platforms that are located in the path of the hurricane. In the described procedure snow-making machines are installed on fixed platforms throughout the region, and only those machines that are in the path of an approaching hurricane are turned on, while the snow-making machines on the moving platform(s) are operating continually.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01G 15/00 - Devices or methods for influencing weather conditions
• B05B 12/12 - Arrangements for controlling deliveryArrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material discharged, of ambient medium or of target responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature
• B05B 17/04 - Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by any other group of this subclass operating with special methods
• B63B 25/08 - Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing or trimmingVessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid
• B63B 35/44 - Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• F25C 3/04 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installationsProducing artificial snow for sledging or ski trailsProducing artificial snow