[armchairhacker]

I thought this was going to describe cloud seeding, artificially stimulating cloud formation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_seeding

It's been used in Dubai, the middle of the desert, to create fake rain (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_seeding#cite_ref-8). It's been used in some US states (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eight-states-are-...).

Though it's effectiveness is debated and it cannot guarantee precipitation. It also has environmental impacts, possibly decreasing precipitation in other areas as well as causing health issues (it basically involves spreading salt or dry ice into the air).

[stevenAthompson]

It is a zero sum game (if it works). Taking moisture from the atmosphere in one place prevents it from precipitating someplace else.

I can envision a world in which wars are fought over this kind of behavior.