Why not use in ocean to change path of hurricane ammonium nitrate when mixed with water ammonium can turn itself cold and would it have a harsh effect on the environment?

Answer 1

Nitrite and Nitrate are compounds of the element Nitrogen, which makes up about 80 percent of the air we breathe. As an essential component of life, nitrogen is recycled continually by plants and animals, and is found in the cells of all living things. Organic nitrogen (nitrogen combined with carbon) is found in proteins and other compounds. Inorganic nitrogen may exist in the free state as a gas, as ammonia (when combined with hydrogen), or as nitrite or nitrate (when combined with oxygen). Nitrites and nitrates are produced naturally as part of the nitrogen cycle, when a bacteria 'production line' breaks down toxic ammonia wastes first into nitrite, and then into nitrate. Sources of nitrites and nitrates

Nitrites are relatively short-lived because they're quickly converted to nitrates by bacteria. Nitrites produce a serious illness (brown blood disease) in fish, even though they don't exist for very long in the environment. Nitrites also react directly with hemoglobin in human blood to produce methemoglobin, which destroys the ability of blood cells to transport oxygen. This condition is especially serious in babies under three months of age as it causes a condition known as methemoglobinemia or "blue baby" disease. Water with nitrite levels exceeding 1.0 mg/L should not be given to babies. Nitrite concentrations in drinking water seldom exceed 0.1 mg/L.

Nitrates stimulate the growth of plankton and water weeds that provide food for fish. This may increase the fish population. However, if algae grow too wildly, oxygen levels will be reduced and fish will die.

Furthermore, Even though ammonium nitrate cools water, the amount require to have any notable effect on a hurricane would be enormous, probably on the order of millions of tons. Such a large amount of the salt even if it could be deployed would probably do more damage than the hurricane.