In Spain, there is a greenhouse area visible in the orbit

To protect more than 200 square kilometers of greenhouses safely, people often use chemicals to dispel storms.

In the opening scene of Blade Runner 2049, we see a series of greenhouses, stretching to the endless horizon. The soundtrack gently emerges, informing anyone who loves cyberpunk that they are about to embark on a wonderful journey. But we are not talking about the greatness of Blade Runner 2049.

It is true that the first film greenhouse series is completely real, not the product of cinematic techniques. That area is located in El Ejido, Spain. The greenhouse area spreads over 200 square kilometers, and is a center for the supply of fruits and vegetables to all of Europe.

The opening scene of Blade Runner 2049.

And yet, the giant greenhouse area - known locally by Mar de plástico, Plastic Sea in Spanish - is also of particular interest to insurance companies. They illegally hired small planes to carry out "cloud seeding", using chemicals to prevent rain and storms to protect the greenhouses from being destroyed by nature.

Photo taken from Google Maps.

Photo taken from orbit.

A little bit about cloud seeding: it's a way of changing the weather by changing the precipitation in the cloud. Chemicals released into the clouds have properties that condense clouds, changing the grain structure of the clouds. This way of creating / preventing rain is still very controversial due to its effects on the health of the people below.

Cloud seeding can be done by releasing chemicals from the ground into the cloud or dropping them from an airplane.

And yet, the greenhouse itself is made of plastic, which is a cultivation area, so the level of pollution here is quite high: the smell of plastic, fertilizer smell, pesticide smell merges into an atmosphere. thick and uncomfortable. This is the price to pay for the wealth that this money-making industry brings.