ABSTRACT
Weather modification is a prime example of how scientific, technological, legal, and political uncertainties often develop simultaneously. In the four volumes of Meteorologica, Aristotle presented most of the accumulated knowledge of his time on the relationships among the four elements—earth, air, fire, and water; he described in some detail the meaning, origin, and significance of comets, shooting stars, dew and frost, clouds and mists, lightning and thunder, rain, snow, hail, wind, and major storm types. On January 8, Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, published a volume of weather signs, including 80 ways for predicting rain, 50 for storms, 45 for wind, 24 for fair weather, and 7 for long-range weather. Wizards, sorcerers, and conjurors officiated with chants, prayers, and incantations at animal sacrifices and other ceremonies designed to break unfavorable spells of weather. Noises and small fires often were relied upon to influence weather.
