ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Alberta Hail Project

The Alberta Hail Project is like a big science project to study hail storms in the province of Alberta, Canada. Scientists are really curious about hail because it can be dangerous and cause a lot of damage to homes, cars, and crops.

To do this project, the scientists have built special machines that can shoot silver iodide into the clouds when a storm is coming. Silver iodide is a chemical that helps to make hail form earlier.

When the silver iodide is shot up into the clouds, it attracts tiny droplets of water that are floating around in the air. The tiny droplets freeze around the silver iodide and form small hailstones. These small hailstones are too light to cause any damage but they help to prevent big hailstones from forming.

The scientists use special radars and cameras to watch the storm and measure the size of the hailstones that are falling. They also collect data to see where the hailstones are landing and how much damage they are causing.

By studying hail storms, the scientists are trying to find new ways to prevent hail damage and keep people safe. The Alberta Hail Project is a really cool way to learn about hail and how it affects the world around us!