Science: Weather or Not

(See Cover)

In their various fashions, the people of New Mexico had long prayed for rain. They were used to seeing the Rio Grande shrunk to a brookwide trickle, too thick to drink, too thin to plough. They were used to seeing their reservoirs low, their rolling ranges burned brown. Often they were forced to ship their cattle away to greener pastures. Many a sun-scorched New Mexican had said resignedly: "The Lord made the state dry. I guess He wants it that way."

Nevertheless, on the slopes above Socorro, a group of scientists thought...