The weather in the UK this June has sparked a wave of responses on social media, with some users attributing the unusual conditions to “weather manipulation” and “geoengineering.” More strikingly, a number of individuals have gone so far as to accuse meteorologists of concealing the truth about the climate situation.
For much of June, temperatures were about 2°C (3.6°F) below the average, a change largely influenced by colder air descending from the Arctic. However, the last week of the month saw a shift as warmer air moved in, pushing temperatures closer to the norm, though they still remained 0.4°C below average. This, combined with one of the wettest winters in recent memory, has left many questioning the current state of British weather. Unfortunately, many of the explanations circulating on social media lack scientific backing.
Some users argue that the cooler weather challenges the reality of climate change. However, it’s important to note that short-term weather patterns do not reflect long-term climate trends in the UK. In fact, recent decades have recorded warmer, wetter, and sunnier conditions when compared to the 20th century, as climate change continues to progress.
A worrying trend has emerged among skeptics of climate change, with some promoting a conspiracy theory that the government is systematically manipulating weather and climate for sinister purposes. Variations of this theory have circulated online for years, often gaining traction after unusual weather events. BBC Verify used social media analytics to reveal a notable uptick in conversations around these topics, with mentions of #GeoEngineering on X (formerly Twitter) more than doubling globally since January compared to late 2023. The outlet uncovered thousands of tweets spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories, often conflating concepts like weather modification and geoengineering.
The most recognized form of weather modification is cloud seeding, a technique that releases small particles into clouds to induce rain or snow. This method has been utilized for decades in various countries, primarily to alleviate water shortages. However, some social media users have mistakenly claimed that the heavy rainfall seen in the UK can only be explained through large-scale cloud seeding, a notion that is unfounded. As the planet warms, warmer air can hold more moisture, resulting in more intense downpours. While climate change is not the sole factor behind the UK’s unusually wet winter, it is a significant contributor.
Although the UK government funded cloud seeding experiments back in the 1950s, the Met Office currently reports no knowledge of weather modification activities in the UK in recent years. Moreover, cloud seeding has limited, localized effects and does not alter long-term weather patterns or climate, where concepts of geoengineering become relevant.
Geoengineering encompasses attempts to manipulate the environment to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Current climate models indicate that, without significant intervention, global temperatures could rise more than 1.5°C in the coming decades, surpassing a critical threshold. In response to these challenges, some scientists advocate for governments to investigate alternative cooling methods, such as capturing and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, a field actively researched in the UK. However, there is no evidence to suggest that removing gases like carbon dioxide would affect short-term weather patterns. Another proposed method, solar radiation management, would aim to reflect some sunlight back into space.
Injecting gases like sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere could theoretically cool the planet, although research in this area is still in the early stages. The UK government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero maintains that it is neither currently implementing solar radiation management nor plans to do so in the future. Still, some users on social media allege, without substantiation, that a cover-up is occurring, implicating BBC Weather and other forecasters.
One social media user expressed, “Imagine watching the geoengineers at work while weather reporters omit the truth about what’s really happening. That is sick!” Many of these users frequently reference “chemtrails,” a thoroughly discredited conspiracy theory suggesting a covert effort to spray harmful chemicals over the population.
The Royal Meteorological Society has condemned the abuse that weather forecasters face, noting that such disrespect can hinder scientific communication. Prof. Liz Bentley, CEO of the Royal Meteorological Society, expressed concern about the chilling effects this may have on young scientists who might hesitate to share their research due to fears of online trolling. Additionally, Dr. Ramit Debnath, an assistant professor at the University of Cambridge, pointed out that skepticism surrounding funding for geoengineering research may grow as conspiracy theories proliferate. “There’s an overarching belief that there’s an attempt to manipulate our natural resources and environment, possibly compromising people’s freedom,” he noted.
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