Cow ensures a prosperous right thinking
community & sustainable environment.
6. यज्ञपदीराक्षीरा स्वधाप्राणा महीलुका ।
वशा पर्जन्यपत्नी देवां अप्येति ब्रह्मणा
। । AV10.10.6
गौमाता (यज्ञपदी) यज्ञकर्म करने की प्रेरण देने वाली –उत्तम मानसिकता और कर्म करने की प्रेरणा देने वाली , (इराक्षीरा) अन्न और दूध देने वाली , (स्वधाप्राणा) अपने को अपनाने वालों को स्वतंत्र बनाती है, (महीलुका) पृथिवी –गोचर - जिस का
विशिष्ट स्थान है, वह (वशा) गौ माता (पर्जन्यपत्नी) मेघों से वर्षा के द्वारा सब का पालन
करने वाली, (देवां
अप्येति ब्रह्मणा) देवता स्वरूप ज्ञानी जनों को प्राप्त होती हैं |
पर्जन्यपत्नी की व्याख्या ;
गृहस्थ में पत्नी जब होती है तब पति पत्नि के साथ रहता है | पत्नि के बिना पति अकेला पड़ कर इधर उधर मारा मारा आवारा फिरता है | गौ और पृथ्वी दोनोंही माता का रूप हैं | बिना गौओं के
पृथ्वी भी अधूरी माता है |
आधुनिक विज्ञान ने यह सिद्ध कर
दिया है कि जहां पृथ्वी पर गौएं होती हैं पर्जन्य
– मेघ भी वहीं वर्षा करते हैं | और पृथ्वी भी जहां गौएं होती हैं वहीं पर वर्षा के जल को अपने अंदर ऐसे संचित कर के रखती है
जैसे रेतस योनि में | और वर्षा के जल से पृथ्वी वनस्पति रूप संतान देती है | जहां पृथ्वी पर गौ नहीं होंगी वहां पृथ्वी बांझ हो जाएगी , और मेघ भी वहां वर्षा करने के लिए नहीं आएंगे | जहां
पृथ्वी पर गौएं होती हैं वहां वर्षा से पृथ्वी
हरी भरी रहती है |
(गोचर का गौ
के लिए यही महत्व है , जो दक्षिण अफ्रीका के वैज्ञानिक एलेन सेवोरी के अनुसंधान से यह सिद्ध भी हो गया है | वह भूमि जहां गौओं का गोबर और गोमूत्र गौओं के
खुरों द्वारा मट्टी में रोंद दिया जाता है वहां मट्टी में वर्षा के जल को सोख लेने
की क्षमता बहुत बढ़ जाती है | हरयाली बनी रहती है | हरयाली में पनप रहे सूक्ष्म जीवाणु द्वारा आकाश में बादलों को प्रभावित कर ने से वर्षा
होतीहै | जिस के परिणाम स्वरूप गोचरों में हरयाली बनी रहती
है | इसी लिए वेद ने
गौ को पर्जन्यपत्नी: बताया प्राचीन काल में गोचर बहुत बड़े
होते थे | जब गोचर के क्षेत्र से गौएं घास खा लेती थीं तब जो
क्षेत्र घास वाले होते थे वहां चली जाती थीं | इस प्रकार गोचर
में घास की कभी कमी नहीं रहती थीं | आधुनिक काल में गोचरों
का संचालन managed pastures एक वैज्ञानिक विषय है | हमारे देश में भी गोचर विकास और
प्रबंधन भी पशुपालन शिक्षा अनुसंधान पर
कार्य होना चाहिए |
{Landslides in Hills, Desertification of
land Rain Making in Modern Science & Vedas
(Subodh Kumar)
Man in his
pursuit for urbanization has drastically reduced the green cover on
ground . According to current policy of our Forest
Department for conservation
of forests entry of cattle for grazing
and humans from getting firewood has been banned . To discourage the entry of rural folks for
getting leaf fodder from naturally growing ‘Banjh’ Quercus family – a dual purpose leaf fodder and firewood
trees have been gradually replaced with
planting of Pine trees. Pine needle fallen from the trees smother the green
undergrowth by mulching. This results in total loss of green undergrowth on the
Himalayas. The rain inducing bacteria Pseudomonas Syringe get eliminated from
the environment. This is resulting in
turning our green Himalayas in to deserts without rains.
The roots system of the green undergrowth also
plays a very important role of soil stabilization. This in turn prevents soil
erosion, landslides and floods in the hilly areas.
Although vegetative cover is known to help
rain precipitation, but absence of these microorganisms in thin vegetations
could be an explanation for Monsoon clouds bypassing certain green areas. The
semiarid and Arid regions having thin vegetation, remain dry in spite of the
fact that monsoon clouds pass over these areas.
Science tells
us nothing can be created from nothing. For making any rains it is necessary to
have water bearing clouds. Till recently the phenomenon of precipitation of clouds was
considered only on basis of physical sciences, and artificial rain making
experiments were made with solid dry ice to initiate precipitation. But now
with developments in biotechnology the role played by microorganisms in rain
making is getting to be noticed.
P. syringae also produce a protein which cause water to freeze at fairly high
temperatures, resulting in injury to plants. Since the 1970s, P. syringae
has been implicated as an atmospheric "biological ice nucleator",
with airborne bacteria serving as cloud
condensation nuclei. Recent evidence has suggested that the species
plays a larger role than previously thought in producing rain
and snow. They have also been found in the cores
of hailstones, aiding in bioprecipitation.[5] These Ina proteins are also used in
making artificial snow.[6]
Discovery of
the role of bacteria such as Pseudomonas Syringe in nucleation of ice at higher
temperatures opens the possibility that these bacteria can facilitate
precipitation from water bearing clouds
at the prevailing temperature. These bacteria are found profusely in
green and rotting leaves at the ground levels. These bacteria are also known to
spread very widely in the atmosphere and reach cloud heights on their own. At
cloud levels they cause nucleation of ice at the prevailing cloud temperatures,
and this induces the clouds to release rains. In absence of these bacteria
clouds will have to travel to far colder higher mountainous regions to cause
precipitation if any, and thus bypass many areas that were used to experience
good rains in the past.
This microbiological phenomenon, to initiate
precipitation of rains is described by the scientists in the report give below.
There are
enumerable references in Vedas to artificial rain making activities and
specific Yagyas are described to promote rains. Yagyas can only be the facilitators for
inducing the water bearing clouds to release the rains. Even some past
experiments by scientists in India could not establish a positive result of
Yagyas.( more due to our lack of scientific insights). In presence of widely
present vegetation the environments could be rich with rain inducing microbes
. Yagyas performed in such environments
could facilitate the transport of these microbes to higher cloud level
altitudes and induce precipitation.
This makes it very easy to understand the scientific wisdom of
the following Ved mantra from Rig Ved.
ऋग्वेद 1/37/11 मरुतो देवता:
त्यं चिद् घा दीर्घं पृथुं मिहो नपातम मृध्रम् !
प्र च्यावयान्ति
यामाभि: !!
(It
is important to bear in mind that according to modern science of microbiology,
the entire universe is pervaded by microbes. All life science phenomenons are progressively being conceive to
be caused by actions initiated by microbial populations. In Vedas ‘Maruts’ मरुत are what modern science describes as
microbes. Winds, Atmosphere, Rizosphere, Biosphere in fact every physical
reality is permeated by Microbes. This
in turn is precisely the case with Maruts as described in Vedas.)
इस वेद मंत्र के तीन भाष्य निम्न लिखित प्राप्त होते हैं
1.महर्षि दयानंद कृत भाष्य से, मरुत देवता , (मिह: ) वर्षा जल से सींचने वाले पवन
(यामाभि: )अपने जाने के मार्गों से (घ) ही (त्यम्) उस (नपातम्) जलो को न गिराने
और (अमृघ्रम्) गीला न करने वाले (पृथुम्) बडे (चित्) भी (दीर्घम्) स्थूल
मेघ को (प्रच्यावयान्ति) भूमि पर गिरा देते हैं.
2.सायण भाष्य: (मरुद्गण) निश्चय कर के उस किसी लम्बे
चौडे न रोके जाने वाले मेघ के पुत्र (वर्षा) को अपनी यात्राओं के साथ हाँक कर ले
जाते हैं.
3.दामोदर सातवलेकर भाष्य: (त्यं चित् घ) उस प्रसिद्ध
(दीर्घ) बहुत लम्बे (पृथुं) फैले हुवे (अमृघ्रं) जिस का कोई नाश नही कर सकता ,ऐसे (मिह: न पातं)जल की वृष्टि न करने
वाले मेघ को भी यह वीर मरुत् (यामाभि: ) अपनी गतियों से (प्र च्यावयन्ति) हिला
देते हैं.
तीनो विद्वत् महानुभावों के उपरोक्त भाष्यों मे एक मुख्य
विषय निर्विवादित है कि “ ऐसे लम्बे बडे मेघों से जो वर्षा नही
करते मरुद्गण अपने प्रभाव से वर्षा करा देते हैं”
यह कैसे सम्भव होता है इस को आज आधुनिक विज्ञान इस
प्रकार बता रहा है.पृथ्वी पर उत्पन्न हरियाली और गले सडे पत्तों मे जो सूक्ष्म
जीवाणु पाए जाते हैं उन मे से कुछ को स्यूडिमोनस सिरिंगै के नाम से जाना जाता है . यह सूक्ष्म जीवाणु हरे
पत्तों पर पलते हैं औरवायुमंडल मे फैल कर आकाश की ओर मेघ मंडल तक पहुंच जाते हैं.
इन जीवाणुओं मे मेघ मंडल मे वहां के ताप मान पर ही हिम कण उत्पन्न करने की क्षमता
होती है. इसी सूक्षमाणु के प्रभाव से मेघ
मंडल वर्षा करने को बाध्य हो जाता है.
यदि मनुष्य अपने स्वार्थ वश पृथ्वी पर वनस्पति हरयाली की
मात्रा को कम कर देता है, या ऐसे वृक्ष लगाता है जैसे पहाडों पर चीड
(pine), जिस से पृथ्वी की हरयाली कम या
समाप्त हो जाती है तो स्पष्ट है कि पृथ्वी पर वर्षा के उपयोगी मरुद्गणों का अभाव
हो जाएगा. जिस के परिणाम स्वरूप वर्षा का अभाव हो जाएगा.
ऐसे क्षेत्रों मे जहां पर्याप्त हरयाली और वर्षा उपयोगी
मरुद्गण वतावरण मे उपस्थित हों वहां विशेष
यज्ञ द्वारा इन मरुद्गणों को मेघमन्डल मे पहुंचाने मे यज्ञाग्नि सहायक हो कर शीघ्र
वर्षा कराती है. यह कैसे सम्भव होता है इस को आज आधुनिक विज्ञान इस प्रकार बता रहा
है.पृथ्वी पर उत्पन्न हरियाली और गले सडे पत्तों मे जो सूक्ष्म जीवाणु पाए जाते
हैं उन मे से कुछ को स्यूडिमोनस सिरिगै के
नाम से जाना जाता है . यह सूक्ष्म जीवाणु वायुमंडल मे फैल कर आकाश की ओर
मेघ मंडल तक पहुंच जाते हैं. इन जीवाणुओं मे मेघ मंडल मे वहां के ताप मान पर ही
हिम कण उत्पन्न करने की क्षमता होती है. एसी के प्रभाव से मेघ मंडल वर्षा करने को
बाध्य हो जाता है.
ऐसे क्षेत्रों मे जहां पर्याप्त हरयाली और वर्षा उपयोगी
मरुद्गण वतावरण मे उपस्थित हों वहां विशेष
यज्ञ द्वारा इन मरुद्गणों को मेघमन्डल मे पहुंचाने मे यज्ञाग्नि सहायक हो कर शीघ्र
वर्षा कराती है.
वि वृक्षान्
हन्त्युत
हन्ति
रक्षसो
विश्वं
बिभाय
भुवना
महावधात्
।
उतानागा ईषते वृष्ण्यावतो यत् पर्जन्य: स्तनयन् हन्ति दुष्कृत: ।। RV 5.83.2
उतानागा ईषते वृष्ण्यावतो यत् पर्जन्य: स्तनयन् हन्ति दुष्कृत: ।। RV 5.83.2
ऋग्वेद के मंत्र अनुसार जो व्यक्ति वृक्ष काटते हैं वे वर्षा के शत्रु होते हैं उन्हे राक्षसों
जैसा दण्ड देना चाहिये.
AV 4.15 वृष्टि
प्रार्थना For Rain
1. समुत्पतन्तु
प्रदिशो नभस्वतीः सं अभ्राणि वातजूतानि यन्तु
।
महऋषभस्य नदतो नभस्वतो वाश्रा आपः पृथिवीं
तर्पयन्तु । ।AV4.15.1
(वर्षा के जल )
बादलों से युक्त उमड़ कर उठें,
वायु से सेवित मेघ मिल कर बड़े वृषभों की
तरह गर्जन करते हुए आएं, वेगवती जल की धाराओं से पृथ्वी को
तृप्त करें.
2. सं ईक्षयन्तु
तविषाः सुदानवोऽपां रसा ओषधीभिः सचन्तां ।
वर्षस्य सर्गा महयन्तु भूमिं पृथग्जायन्तां
ओषधयो विश्वरूपाः । । AV4.15.2
बड़े बलशाली महान दान
शील मरुत ( सूक्ष्माणु) भलीभांति वर्षा की बौछारों को औषधि तत्वों से परिपूर्ण कर
के भिन्न भिन्न स्थानों पर उत्पन्न होने वाले अन्न और औषधीय लताओं वनस्पतियों की
वृद्धि करें .
वर्षा के लोक गीत
3. सं ईक्षयस्व
गायतो नभांस्यपां वेगासः पृथगुद्विजन्तां
।
वर्षस्य सर्गा महयन्तु भूमिं पृथग्जायन्तां
वीरुधो विश्वरूपाः । । AV4.15.3
आकाश में मेघों को
देखने की, भिन्न भिन्न स्थानों पर वेग पूर्वक वर्षा की धारओं
से विविध रूप वाली वनस्पतियों के उत्पन्न होने की आकांक्षा गायन द्वारा स्तुति की
प्रेरणा दें.
वर्षा के लोक गीत
4. गणास्त्वोप
गायन्तु मारुताः पर्जन्य घोषिणः पृथक् ।
सर्गा वर्षस्य वर्षतो वर्षन्तु पृथिवीं अनु । ।
AV4.15.4
पृथक पृथक स्थानों पर
वर्षा के , मेघों के
पृथ्वी पर बरसने के यशोगान हों .
सूक्ष्माणु द्वारा
वाष्पी करण
5. उदीरयत मरुतः
समुद्रतस्त्वेषो अर्को नभ उत्पातयाथ ।
महऋषभस्य नदतो नभस्वतो वाश्रा आपः पृथिवीं
तर्पयन्तु । । AV4.15.5
समुद्र से जलों को
ऊपर अंतरिक्ष में चमकते हुए सूर्य के साथ सूक्ष्माणु गरजते हुए बादलों से वेगवती जल की धाराओं से
भूमि को तृप्त करें
गोचर की समृद्धि
6. अभि क्रन्द
स्तनयार्दयोदधिं भूमिं पर्जन्य पयसा सं अङ्धि
।
त्वया सृष्टं बहुलं ऐतु वर्षं आशारैषी कृशगुरेत्वस्तं । ।
AV4.15.6
गर्जना करते हुए, कड़कते हुए
बादल समुद्र को हिला दें. जल से भूमि को
कांतिमयि बना दें. वर्षा की झड़ी से दुर्बल गौओं के लिए गोपालक (गोचर के लिए) अच्छी
वर्षा की इच्छा करता है .
7. सं वोऽवन्तु
सुदानव उत्सा अजगरा उत ।
मरुद्भिः प्रच्युता मेघा वर्षन्तु पृथिवीं
अनु । ।
AV4.15.7
अजगर के समान
मोटेमोटे जल आकाश से गिरती हुइ जल की धाराएं
सूक्ष्माणुओं से संचालित मेघ पृथ्वी पर सुरक्षा के लिए अनुकूल वर्षा करें
8. आशामाशां वि
द्योततां वाता वान्तु दिशोदिशः ।
मरुद्भिः प्रच्युता मेघाः सं यन्तु पृथिवीं
अनु । ।
AV4.15.8
आकाश में सब दिशाओं
में बिजली चमके,सब दिशाओं मे वायु
चले, सूक्ष्माणुओं से प्रेरित मेघ भूमि को अनुकूल बनाने के
लिए आएं.
9. आपो विद्युदभ्रं
वर्षं सं वोऽवन्तु सुदानव उत्सा अजगरा उत
।
मरुद्भिः प्रच्युता मेघाः प्रावन्तु पृथिवीं अनु
। ।
AV4.15.9
सूक्ष्माणुओं से प्रेरित मेघों में विद्युत, अजगर के समान मोटे मोटे जल का दान करने वाले वर्षा
के झरने पृथ्वी को अनुकूल बना कर रक्षा करें.
वर्षा जल का महत्व
10. अपां
अग्निस्तनूभिः संविदानो य ओषधीनां अधिपा बभूव
।
स नो वर्षं वनुतां जातवेदाः प्राणं प्रजाभ्यो
अमृतं दिवस्परि । । AV4.15.10
(वर्षा के ) जलों में
जो अग्नि गुण हैं ,जलों
के शरीरभूत बादलों से मिली हुई , जो इस जलों को ओषधि गुण
द्वारा वनस्पतियों की रक्षक और पालक होती हैं वह अग्नि प्रकट हो कर हमें वर्षा को प्रदान करे. वे जल
बुद्धि मान जन जानते हैं कि वे द्युलोक
से आने वाले अमृत रूप धारण करके प्रजा के प्राण हैं .
वर्षा का जल पृथ्वी
का वीर्य
11. प्रजापतिः
सलिलादा समुद्रादाप ईरयन्नुदधिं अर्दयाति ।
प्र प्यायतां वृष्णो अश्वस्य रेतोऽर्वानेतेन
स्तनयित्नुनेहि । । AV4.15.11
(प्रजापति) प्रजा का रक्षक परमेश्वर (सलिल) साधारण जल को समुद्र को पीड़ित कर-वाष्प बना कर
व्यापनशील मेघ के रूप में अन्तरिक्ष की ओर ले जा कर गर्जने वाले मेघ से वीर्य की
भांति खूब वृद्धि के लिए पृथ्वी की ओर नीचे वर्षा करता है.
12. अपो
निषिञ्चन्नसुरः पिता नः श्वसन्तु गर्गरा अपां वरुणाव नीचीरपः सृज।
वदन्तु पृश्निबाहवो मण्डूका इरिणानु । ।
AV4.15.12
वर्षा का जल प्राणों
को देने वाले मेघ से उत्पन्न हमारा पिता-समान
है , जो बादलों की
गड़गड़ाहट की ध्वनि से जलों को नीचे की ओर छोड़ता है, पृथ्वी
पर गड्ढों में रहने वाले भिन्न भिन्न रंग बिरंगे मेंढक इत्यादि हर्षसे
खूब टर्र टर्र करते हैं .
13. संवत्सरं
शशयाना ब्राह्मणा व्रतचारिणः ।
वाचं पर्जन्यजिन्वितां प्र मण्दूका
अवादिषुः । । AV4.15.13
वृष्टि के लिए
वार्षिक व्रत सम्पन्न करने वाले ब्राह्मणो की नांई, साल भर सोये पड़े मेंढक वर्षा से तृप्त हुई वाणीको खूब ज़ोर से बोलते हैं.
14. उपप्रवद
मण्डूकि वर्षं आ वद तादुरि ।
मध्ये ह्रदस्य प्लवस्व विगृह्य चतुरः पदः । ।
AV4.15.14
हे मेंढक मेंढकी के परिवार
वर्षा को देख कर आनंद से चारों पैर फैला कर खूब क्रीड़ा करो और बोलो .
वर्षा की कामना
15. खण्वखा३इ
खैमखा३इ मध्ये तदुरि ।
वर्षं वनुध्वं पितरो
मरुतां मन इछत । । AV4.15.15
(खण्वखा३इ खैमखा३इ
मध्ये तदुरि) ईड़ा पिंगला सुषम्ना के मध्य
, मन को
केंद्रित कर के मरुतों से
अनुकूल हो कर वर्षा द्वारा हमारा
पितरों कि तरह पालन करने की कामना करो..
16. महान्तं कोशं
उदचाभि षिञ्च सविद्युतं भवतु वातु वातः ।
तन्वतां यज्ञं बहुधा विसृष्टा आनन्दिनीरोषधयो
भवन्तु । ।
AV4.15.16
(आप लोग) खूब यज्ञादि कर के महान आनंद दायक समृद्धि और
ओषधि के कोष को विद्युत और पवन के साथ वर्षा की धाराओं द्वारा समस्त संसार को सींचो
David Sands, professor at the Department of
Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, usa, hypothesized
that there is a link between rainfall and bacteria in 1982. He didn't find many
takers then. He has recently proved that bio precipitation does actually
happen. He talks to Kirtiman Awasthi about the experiment and its
implications
Findings
We have found that airborne bacteria may play a big role in the precipitation cycle. The bacteria act as nuclei around which ice forms. These biological nuclei can cause freezing at warmer temperatures.
Bacteria
There are three to four species of bacteria that are capable of ice nucleation. One of them, Pseudomonas syringae, is abundant in cool and wet season.The bacterium does not survive in hot (over 30°c) and dry weather. Though a pathogen, it generally survives as a saprophyte (on the plant surface) without causing diseases. These are not pathogenic to humans or animals because they cannot grow at body temperatures. The bacteria are also found in ice and rain drops at higher altitudes, which indicates they play a role in bio precipitation.
Process
Bacteria multiply on the surface of plants and wind then sweeps them into the atmosphere. Water clumps around the bacterium, leading to rainfall. When precipitation occurs, the bacteria make it back to the ground. Even if one bacterium lands on a plant, it can multiply and form groups, thus causing the cycle to repeat.
Experiment
We tried to show that the process holds true by carrying out an experiment. We treated 28 tonnes of wheat seeds with a copper bactericide and planted it in 400 hectares of dry land during spring in Montana. We found the bacteria appeared on the crop. As there were rainstorms during that period, we decided to see if these bacteria were in the air above the field. We held out simple samplers from the window of a small plane which was flown over the experimental field. We were able to detect these bacteria as high as 2 km above the ground. In the lab we then determined that they were ice nucleation active.
Over the years
We didn't receive a particularly positive response from other scientists when we introduced the concept of bio-precipitation at a meeting in Budapest, Hungary, in 1982. In the past 25 years, the science pertaining to these bacteria has progressed considerably. There are dna tests for identification and their genetics are now better understood. There are now large computers capable of providing us with models of clouds and sophisticated forecasting and backtracking of storms. Dead Pseudomonas syringae have been used for 20 years in water cannons to enhance snow making for ski resorts, so we know that they do not just function as ice nuclei in the laboratory. But live bacteria perform better. We found that killing bacteria by boiling or adding enzymes does not lead to effective ice nucleation.
Global warming
Since the bacteria does not grow above 30°c, precipitation could be affected if world's temperature rises. However, compared to other nucleants such as carbon dioxide and silver iodide, the bacteria may still function as effective nuclei. This is because the bacteria are capable of getting water to freeze at temperatures just below 0°c, (-2°c to -7°c), whereas other nucleants require temperatures that are 10-12°c colder.
Precipitation patterns
There are two kinds of approaches to changing global precipitation patterns. One is to let them happen, and the other is to try to ask if we have been unknowingly affecting precipitation by overgrazing, cropping systems, etc. The next step would be to ask what can we do to avert any damage. People have been trying to modify weather for a long time, without much success. Perhaps it is because there have been these bit part biological players in the game.
Implications
A reduced amount of bacteria on crops could affect climate. Also, overgrazing in a dry year could actually decrease rainfall, which could then make the next year even dryer. Drought could be less of a problem once we understand how rainfall is linked to bacteria.
Spread extent
These bacteria have been found almost everywhere but we do not know the extent of their activities, ice nucleation or otherwise. We need to study weather patterns relative to vegetation that supports such bacteria.
Findings
We have found that airborne bacteria may play a big role in the precipitation cycle. The bacteria act as nuclei around which ice forms. These biological nuclei can cause freezing at warmer temperatures.
Bacteria
There are three to four species of bacteria that are capable of ice nucleation. One of them, Pseudomonas syringae, is abundant in cool and wet season.The bacterium does not survive in hot (over 30°c) and dry weather. Though a pathogen, it generally survives as a saprophyte (on the plant surface) without causing diseases. These are not pathogenic to humans or animals because they cannot grow at body temperatures. The bacteria are also found in ice and rain drops at higher altitudes, which indicates they play a role in bio precipitation.
Process
Bacteria multiply on the surface of plants and wind then sweeps them into the atmosphere. Water clumps around the bacterium, leading to rainfall. When precipitation occurs, the bacteria make it back to the ground. Even if one bacterium lands on a plant, it can multiply and form groups, thus causing the cycle to repeat.
Experiment
We tried to show that the process holds true by carrying out an experiment. We treated 28 tonnes of wheat seeds with a copper bactericide and planted it in 400 hectares of dry land during spring in Montana. We found the bacteria appeared on the crop. As there were rainstorms during that period, we decided to see if these bacteria were in the air above the field. We held out simple samplers from the window of a small plane which was flown over the experimental field. We were able to detect these bacteria as high as 2 km above the ground. In the lab we then determined that they were ice nucleation active.
Over the years
We didn't receive a particularly positive response from other scientists when we introduced the concept of bio-precipitation at a meeting in Budapest, Hungary, in 1982. In the past 25 years, the science pertaining to these bacteria has progressed considerably. There are dna tests for identification and their genetics are now better understood. There are now large computers capable of providing us with models of clouds and sophisticated forecasting and backtracking of storms. Dead Pseudomonas syringae have been used for 20 years in water cannons to enhance snow making for ski resorts, so we know that they do not just function as ice nuclei in the laboratory. But live bacteria perform better. We found that killing bacteria by boiling or adding enzymes does not lead to effective ice nucleation.
Global warming
Since the bacteria does not grow above 30°c, precipitation could be affected if world's temperature rises. However, compared to other nucleants such as carbon dioxide and silver iodide, the bacteria may still function as effective nuclei. This is because the bacteria are capable of getting water to freeze at temperatures just below 0°c, (-2°c to -7°c), whereas other nucleants require temperatures that are 10-12°c colder.
Precipitation patterns
There are two kinds of approaches to changing global precipitation patterns. One is to let them happen, and the other is to try to ask if we have been unknowingly affecting precipitation by overgrazing, cropping systems, etc. The next step would be to ask what can we do to avert any damage. People have been trying to modify weather for a long time, without much success. Perhaps it is because there have been these bit part biological players in the game.
Implications
A reduced amount of bacteria on crops could affect climate. Also, overgrazing in a dry year could actually decrease rainfall, which could then make the next year even dryer. Drought could be less of a problem once we understand how rainfall is linked to bacteria.
Spread extent
These bacteria have been found almost everywhere but we do not know the extent of their activities, ice nucleation or otherwise. We need to study weather patterns relative to vegetation that supports such bacteria.
Date:
14/04/2008
Source:
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