[daeken]

This is really interesting. That said, it looks pretty straightforward to build; looks like there are no novel materials or equipment needed to make this happen, from my reading of it. Given that, why don't we have a full-scale prototype of this, at the very least? Is it just the money, or is there something non-trivial about this? I feel like I'm missing some reason why this is non-viable in practice.

[Kerrz]

I actually worked in the lab with Louis' team this past summer (completely unrelated projects.)

If the wind was going faster than a couple miles per hour, they couldn't even turn their prototype on to run their tests. I think the biggest problem they're having with going big-picture with this is doing the due-diligence to prove it's not a tornado machine.

[fernly]

Say more about "couldn't even turn [it] on"? Because it didn't work then (not a good sign)? Or because they, or somebody, thought the vortex would detach and go rogue?

[Kerrz]

It was less of an immediate safety concern and more a case of trying to limit the variables. They were only doing tests under ideal conditions, rather than testing in all conditions. I imagine the plan involves testing in all conditions eventually, but they need to fine-tune their equipment in ideal conditions to make sure they know what "good" and "bad" look like before potentially feeding some atmospheric action that they didn't anticipate.

[m_mueller]

How about doing it somewhere remote? Say, on a remote pacific island with no inhabitants? Or is there even the fear that it could emit a hurricane (which would probably happen anyways, but if it's your machine that starts it, all (media) hell breaks loose)?