How can I ensure my Evil Tower is always stormy?

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It's been a good year for me as an Evil Overlord. Lots of princess kidnapping turned into sizable ransoms, several of my Doomsday Devices were sold for high prices at auction, and my Minions have been working harder than ever. In fact, I'd like to think I'm moving up the Evil Overlord ladder.



To capitalize on my profits and cement my position in the world, I've decided to construct an Evil Tower somewhere in the world. It's going to be ~500 meters tall, and I've got the blueprints more or less figured out, but it doesn't quite scream "evil". Yet.



To guarantee that everyone knows exactly who they're messing with, I'd like to have a persistent storm cloud hovering above my tower.



Goals:



  • At least half a kilometer high and a kilometer in diameter, ideally floating a few hundred meters above the top of my tower


  • Must be stable and persistent under most weather conditions. This will depend on the suggested location, but the cloud should be present at least 90% of the time


  • The cloud does not need to be composed of the normal H2O molecules, but answers using more common and less environmentally disruptive substances will be preferred


  • Ideally, the cloud will not produce large quantities of rain but some precipitation (less than 1 meter per year) is acceptable


  • The cloud is dark grey or black (none of those cute sheep-looking cumulonimbus clouds)


  • The cloud occasionally discharges lightning bolts to carefully positioned lightning rods in the top of my tower


How can I engineer my Evil Tower or the surrounding environment to fulfill the above requirements?










share|improve this question



















  • 1




    what about rain? Do you want it falling out of the cloud or not? B/c that can be hard to avoid, and can be pretty disruptive in the long term ...
    – Bald Bear
    57 mins ago







  • 1




    'Less environmentally disruptive?" What kind of Evil Overlord talk is that?
    – DJClayworth
    45 mins ago






  • 1




    put it in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo, it is the stormiest place on earth, thunderstorms 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours a night, and as many as 280 lighting strikes an hour.
    – John
    42 mins ago











  • @BaldBear Good point! I've edited my question to add some clarification
    – Dubukay
    17 mins ago










  • A Tesla coil on the roof with some lightning rods in the ground around your tower would give a nice effect too.
    – BrettFromLA
    14 mins ago














up vote
7
down vote

favorite












It's been a good year for me as an Evil Overlord. Lots of princess kidnapping turned into sizable ransoms, several of my Doomsday Devices were sold for high prices at auction, and my Minions have been working harder than ever. In fact, I'd like to think I'm moving up the Evil Overlord ladder.



To capitalize on my profits and cement my position in the world, I've decided to construct an Evil Tower somewhere in the world. It's going to be ~500 meters tall, and I've got the blueprints more or less figured out, but it doesn't quite scream "evil". Yet.



To guarantee that everyone knows exactly who they're messing with, I'd like to have a persistent storm cloud hovering above my tower.



Goals:



  • At least half a kilometer high and a kilometer in diameter, ideally floating a few hundred meters above the top of my tower


  • Must be stable and persistent under most weather conditions. This will depend on the suggested location, but the cloud should be present at least 90% of the time


  • The cloud does not need to be composed of the normal H2O molecules, but answers using more common and less environmentally disruptive substances will be preferred


  • Ideally, the cloud will not produce large quantities of rain but some precipitation (less than 1 meter per year) is acceptable


  • The cloud is dark grey or black (none of those cute sheep-looking cumulonimbus clouds)


  • The cloud occasionally discharges lightning bolts to carefully positioned lightning rods in the top of my tower


How can I engineer my Evil Tower or the surrounding environment to fulfill the above requirements?










share|improve this question



















  • 1




    what about rain? Do you want it falling out of the cloud or not? B/c that can be hard to avoid, and can be pretty disruptive in the long term ...
    – Bald Bear
    57 mins ago







  • 1




    'Less environmentally disruptive?" What kind of Evil Overlord talk is that?
    – DJClayworth
    45 mins ago






  • 1




    put it in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo, it is the stormiest place on earth, thunderstorms 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours a night, and as many as 280 lighting strikes an hour.
    – John
    42 mins ago











  • @BaldBear Good point! I've edited my question to add some clarification
    – Dubukay
    17 mins ago










  • A Tesla coil on the roof with some lightning rods in the ground around your tower would give a nice effect too.
    – BrettFromLA
    14 mins ago












up vote
7
down vote

favorite









up vote
7
down vote

favorite











It's been a good year for me as an Evil Overlord. Lots of princess kidnapping turned into sizable ransoms, several of my Doomsday Devices were sold for high prices at auction, and my Minions have been working harder than ever. In fact, I'd like to think I'm moving up the Evil Overlord ladder.



To capitalize on my profits and cement my position in the world, I've decided to construct an Evil Tower somewhere in the world. It's going to be ~500 meters tall, and I've got the blueprints more or less figured out, but it doesn't quite scream "evil". Yet.



To guarantee that everyone knows exactly who they're messing with, I'd like to have a persistent storm cloud hovering above my tower.



Goals:



  • At least half a kilometer high and a kilometer in diameter, ideally floating a few hundred meters above the top of my tower


  • Must be stable and persistent under most weather conditions. This will depend on the suggested location, but the cloud should be present at least 90% of the time


  • The cloud does not need to be composed of the normal H2O molecules, but answers using more common and less environmentally disruptive substances will be preferred


  • Ideally, the cloud will not produce large quantities of rain but some precipitation (less than 1 meter per year) is acceptable


  • The cloud is dark grey or black (none of those cute sheep-looking cumulonimbus clouds)


  • The cloud occasionally discharges lightning bolts to carefully positioned lightning rods in the top of my tower


How can I engineer my Evil Tower or the surrounding environment to fulfill the above requirements?










share|improve this question















It's been a good year for me as an Evil Overlord. Lots of princess kidnapping turned into sizable ransoms, several of my Doomsday Devices were sold for high prices at auction, and my Minions have been working harder than ever. In fact, I'd like to think I'm moving up the Evil Overlord ladder.



To capitalize on my profits and cement my position in the world, I've decided to construct an Evil Tower somewhere in the world. It's going to be ~500 meters tall, and I've got the blueprints more or less figured out, but it doesn't quite scream "evil". Yet.



To guarantee that everyone knows exactly who they're messing with, I'd like to have a persistent storm cloud hovering above my tower.



Goals:



  • At least half a kilometer high and a kilometer in diameter, ideally floating a few hundred meters above the top of my tower


  • Must be stable and persistent under most weather conditions. This will depend on the suggested location, but the cloud should be present at least 90% of the time


  • The cloud does not need to be composed of the normal H2O molecules, but answers using more common and less environmentally disruptive substances will be preferred


  • Ideally, the cloud will not produce large quantities of rain but some precipitation (less than 1 meter per year) is acceptable


  • The cloud is dark grey or black (none of those cute sheep-looking cumulonimbus clouds)


  • The cloud occasionally discharges lightning bolts to carefully positioned lightning rods in the top of my tower


How can I engineer my Evil Tower or the surrounding environment to fulfill the above requirements?







science-based technology engineering lightning clouds






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 19 mins ago

























asked 1 hour ago









Dubukay

7,29021350




7,29021350







  • 1




    what about rain? Do you want it falling out of the cloud or not? B/c that can be hard to avoid, and can be pretty disruptive in the long term ...
    – Bald Bear
    57 mins ago







  • 1




    'Less environmentally disruptive?" What kind of Evil Overlord talk is that?
    – DJClayworth
    45 mins ago






  • 1




    put it in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo, it is the stormiest place on earth, thunderstorms 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours a night, and as many as 280 lighting strikes an hour.
    – John
    42 mins ago











  • @BaldBear Good point! I've edited my question to add some clarification
    – Dubukay
    17 mins ago










  • A Tesla coil on the roof with some lightning rods in the ground around your tower would give a nice effect too.
    – BrettFromLA
    14 mins ago












  • 1




    what about rain? Do you want it falling out of the cloud or not? B/c that can be hard to avoid, and can be pretty disruptive in the long term ...
    – Bald Bear
    57 mins ago







  • 1




    'Less environmentally disruptive?" What kind of Evil Overlord talk is that?
    – DJClayworth
    45 mins ago






  • 1




    put it in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo, it is the stormiest place on earth, thunderstorms 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours a night, and as many as 280 lighting strikes an hour.
    – John
    42 mins ago











  • @BaldBear Good point! I've edited my question to add some clarification
    – Dubukay
    17 mins ago










  • A Tesla coil on the roof with some lightning rods in the ground around your tower would give a nice effect too.
    – BrettFromLA
    14 mins ago







1




1




what about rain? Do you want it falling out of the cloud or not? B/c that can be hard to avoid, and can be pretty disruptive in the long term ...
– Bald Bear
57 mins ago





what about rain? Do you want it falling out of the cloud or not? B/c that can be hard to avoid, and can be pretty disruptive in the long term ...
– Bald Bear
57 mins ago





1




1




'Less environmentally disruptive?" What kind of Evil Overlord talk is that?
– DJClayworth
45 mins ago




'Less environmentally disruptive?" What kind of Evil Overlord talk is that?
– DJClayworth
45 mins ago




1




1




put it in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo, it is the stormiest place on earth, thunderstorms 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours a night, and as many as 280 lighting strikes an hour.
– John
42 mins ago





put it in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo, it is the stormiest place on earth, thunderstorms 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours a night, and as many as 280 lighting strikes an hour.
– John
42 mins ago













@BaldBear Good point! I've edited my question to add some clarification
– Dubukay
17 mins ago




@BaldBear Good point! I've edited my question to add some clarification
– Dubukay
17 mins ago












A Tesla coil on the roof with some lightning rods in the ground around your tower would give a nice effect too.
– BrettFromLA
14 mins ago




A Tesla coil on the roof with some lightning rods in the ground around your tower would give a nice effect too.
– BrettFromLA
14 mins ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
2
down vote













For non-perpetual, try catatumbo like areas:



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catatumbo_lightning



Has more than half the year lightning storms originating from 1km high clouds.



Otherwise I would build that tower around/very near a volcano that belches a lot of smoke. If necessary, get your minions to haul up incredible amounts of materials that create a lot of smoke when burned to help the volcano get enough smoke in the air for your purposes.






share|improve this answer





























    up vote
    1
    down vote













    It needs to be hot, at least the top of it does. If you create a constant low pressure zone over your tower, by heating the air around the top of it so that said air rises, this will create a condensation zone over the tower and, due to the convective system set up thereby, a perpetual thunder cloud with all the storming you could need. Lightening will naturally seek the shortest route to ground so your lightening rods need only exist and be more conductive than the rest of the tower to get all the strikes you want.






    share|improve this answer





























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      Put it on the windward side of a mountain range's rain shadow. (You can imagine it being reasonable that there would be much thunder and lightning when there are so many clouds and constant rain.)



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer



























        up vote
        0
        down vote













        The tower is normally invisible and can only be seen during storms.



        This is bending the requirements of the question a bit, but may serve for the purposes of your storytelling. Let's say that, being a villain, you are hiding your terrifying lair in plain sight. An invisible skyscraper in the Seattle area, maybe. Something about darkness and high winds and lightning makes it become visible -- hence, it is only ever seen in a storm. This is a self-defense solution, as heroes can only approach under the absolute worst conditions.



        Solution #2



        Alternatively, your tower may be built on Jupiter.





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          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes








          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          2
          down vote













          For non-perpetual, try catatumbo like areas:



          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catatumbo_lightning



          Has more than half the year lightning storms originating from 1km high clouds.



          Otherwise I would build that tower around/very near a volcano that belches a lot of smoke. If necessary, get your minions to haul up incredible amounts of materials that create a lot of smoke when burned to help the volcano get enough smoke in the air for your purposes.






          share|improve this answer


























            up vote
            2
            down vote













            For non-perpetual, try catatumbo like areas:



            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catatumbo_lightning



            Has more than half the year lightning storms originating from 1km high clouds.



            Otherwise I would build that tower around/very near a volcano that belches a lot of smoke. If necessary, get your minions to haul up incredible amounts of materials that create a lot of smoke when burned to help the volcano get enough smoke in the air for your purposes.






            share|improve this answer
























              up vote
              2
              down vote










              up vote
              2
              down vote









              For non-perpetual, try catatumbo like areas:



              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catatumbo_lightning



              Has more than half the year lightning storms originating from 1km high clouds.



              Otherwise I would build that tower around/very near a volcano that belches a lot of smoke. If necessary, get your minions to haul up incredible amounts of materials that create a lot of smoke when burned to help the volcano get enough smoke in the air for your purposes.






              share|improve this answer














              For non-perpetual, try catatumbo like areas:



              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catatumbo_lightning



              Has more than half the year lightning storms originating from 1km high clouds.



              Otherwise I would build that tower around/very near a volcano that belches a lot of smoke. If necessary, get your minions to haul up incredible amounts of materials that create a lot of smoke when burned to help the volcano get enough smoke in the air for your purposes.







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited 8 mins ago









              adaliabooks

              10.1k33562




              10.1k33562










              answered 29 mins ago









              Demigan

              4,9281324




              4,9281324




















                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote













                  It needs to be hot, at least the top of it does. If you create a constant low pressure zone over your tower, by heating the air around the top of it so that said air rises, this will create a condensation zone over the tower and, due to the convective system set up thereby, a perpetual thunder cloud with all the storming you could need. Lightening will naturally seek the shortest route to ground so your lightening rods need only exist and be more conductive than the rest of the tower to get all the strikes you want.






                  share|improve this answer


























                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote













                    It needs to be hot, at least the top of it does. If you create a constant low pressure zone over your tower, by heating the air around the top of it so that said air rises, this will create a condensation zone over the tower and, due to the convective system set up thereby, a perpetual thunder cloud with all the storming you could need. Lightening will naturally seek the shortest route to ground so your lightening rods need only exist and be more conductive than the rest of the tower to get all the strikes you want.






                    share|improve this answer
























                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote









                      It needs to be hot, at least the top of it does. If you create a constant low pressure zone over your tower, by heating the air around the top of it so that said air rises, this will create a condensation zone over the tower and, due to the convective system set up thereby, a perpetual thunder cloud with all the storming you could need. Lightening will naturally seek the shortest route to ground so your lightening rods need only exist and be more conductive than the rest of the tower to get all the strikes you want.






                      share|improve this answer














                      It needs to be hot, at least the top of it does. If you create a constant low pressure zone over your tower, by heating the air around the top of it so that said air rises, this will create a condensation zone over the tower and, due to the convective system set up thereby, a perpetual thunder cloud with all the storming you could need. Lightening will naturally seek the shortest route to ground so your lightening rods need only exist and be more conductive than the rest of the tower to get all the strikes you want.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited 12 mins ago

























                      answered 34 mins ago









                      Ash

                      21.3k253130




                      21.3k253130




















                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          Put it on the windward side of a mountain range's rain shadow. (You can imagine it being reasonable that there would be much thunder and lightning when there are so many clouds and constant rain.)



                          enter image description here






                          share|improve this answer
























                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote













                            Put it on the windward side of a mountain range's rain shadow. (You can imagine it being reasonable that there would be much thunder and lightning when there are so many clouds and constant rain.)



                            enter image description here






                            share|improve this answer






















                              up vote
                              0
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              0
                              down vote









                              Put it on the windward side of a mountain range's rain shadow. (You can imagine it being reasonable that there would be much thunder and lightning when there are so many clouds and constant rain.)



                              enter image description here






                              share|improve this answer












                              Put it on the windward side of a mountain range's rain shadow. (You can imagine it being reasonable that there would be much thunder and lightning when there are so many clouds and constant rain.)



                              enter image description here







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered 20 mins ago









                              RonJohn

                              12.2k12659




                              12.2k12659




















                                  up vote
                                  0
                                  down vote













                                  The tower is normally invisible and can only be seen during storms.



                                  This is bending the requirements of the question a bit, but may serve for the purposes of your storytelling. Let's say that, being a villain, you are hiding your terrifying lair in plain sight. An invisible skyscraper in the Seattle area, maybe. Something about darkness and high winds and lightning makes it become visible -- hence, it is only ever seen in a storm. This is a self-defense solution, as heroes can only approach under the absolute worst conditions.



                                  Solution #2



                                  Alternatively, your tower may be built on Jupiter.





                                  share
























                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote













                                    The tower is normally invisible and can only be seen during storms.



                                    This is bending the requirements of the question a bit, but may serve for the purposes of your storytelling. Let's say that, being a villain, you are hiding your terrifying lair in plain sight. An invisible skyscraper in the Seattle area, maybe. Something about darkness and high winds and lightning makes it become visible -- hence, it is only ever seen in a storm. This is a self-defense solution, as heroes can only approach under the absolute worst conditions.



                                    Solution #2



                                    Alternatively, your tower may be built on Jupiter.





                                    share






















                                      up vote
                                      0
                                      down vote










                                      up vote
                                      0
                                      down vote









                                      The tower is normally invisible and can only be seen during storms.



                                      This is bending the requirements of the question a bit, but may serve for the purposes of your storytelling. Let's say that, being a villain, you are hiding your terrifying lair in plain sight. An invisible skyscraper in the Seattle area, maybe. Something about darkness and high winds and lightning makes it become visible -- hence, it is only ever seen in a storm. This is a self-defense solution, as heroes can only approach under the absolute worst conditions.



                                      Solution #2



                                      Alternatively, your tower may be built on Jupiter.





                                      share












                                      The tower is normally invisible and can only be seen during storms.



                                      This is bending the requirements of the question a bit, but may serve for the purposes of your storytelling. Let's say that, being a villain, you are hiding your terrifying lair in plain sight. An invisible skyscraper in the Seattle area, maybe. Something about darkness and high winds and lightning makes it become visible -- hence, it is only ever seen in a storm. This is a self-defense solution, as heroes can only approach under the absolute worst conditions.



                                      Solution #2



                                      Alternatively, your tower may be built on Jupiter.






                                      share











                                      share


                                      share










                                      answered 6 mins ago









                                      Joe

                                      2,7291720




                                      2,7291720



























                                           

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