What is Cloud Seeding

Cloud seeding, also known as hygroscopic seeding, is one of the latest advancements towards artificial rainfall in UAE in terms of climate and environment related research. The need of cloud seeding was acknowledged because of curbing water shortage.

UAE is working to increase rainfall by introducing cloud seeding in Dubai and other emirates. Cloud seeding is a popular process which is followed by many countries in the world.

UAE is one of the first countries in the Persian Gulf to undertake this process in a bid to cause artificially supported rains in the region.

Cloud seeding has proven to be quite effective and successful technology in UAE, and has indeed enhanced rainfall conditions in the country.

UN forecasts say that nearly 14 percent of total population would see water shortage by 2025.

The areas most affected would include deserts and other drought affected areas such as UAE witnessing less amount of annual rainfall. This is one of many reasons for cloud seeding in UAE.

The rising concern led the country to work. With the aim to improve rainfall condition in the country, UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science was launched back in 2015.

Since then, National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) is also working on new research and technologies, including new nano-materials to increase the effectiveness of rain making in UAE.

The nano-technology works on injecting the salt crystals into the clouds in order to make the rain particles even more dense. The flare salts are coated with titanium dioxide nano coating that acts as a promoter of the reaction that helps in fastening the process.

History of Cloud Seeding and success rate

It was in 1990 when the idea was first invested and discussed. In no time, the technology gained immense popularity within the government. UAE then served undivided focus on the process and attempting the practice successfully.

In recent years the frequency of cloud seeding in UAE has increased, with more than 170 times in 2016, and more than 180 in 2018 and 2019. Respectively. 

The effectiveness of seeding can be seen simply in the reported numbers for artificial rainfall in UAE, reporting a difference of approximately 50 millimeters of yearly rainfall or more in different areas of UAE.

UAEs green cover is slowly increasing, as the shrubs and trees planted are sustaining heat for longer, owing to the increased rainfall.

Cloud seeding has been around in UAE since nearly two decades, with more than 500 cloud seeding flights till date.

As per NCM, seeding has resulted an increase of around 30 to 35 percent of rainfall during clean skies, and 15 percent during dusty weather conditions.

Process of cloud seeding in UAE

The operations include planes flying into the base of clouds, and releasing flares attached to their wings.

These flares include various chemical salts of magnesium, potassium, and sodium that helps clouds to form droplets that are heavy enough to fall.

As the salts create reactions with the cloud vapors, water droplets collect, making the cloud heavy enough to start the process of rain precipitation.

Clouds cover millions of small water droplets that are light enough to stay afloat in the sky. 

The idea is to chemically induce a reaction to combine them in order to make them heavier and ultimately rain.

After achieving success in the initial tries, the authorities and researchers are now working to make this clumping process more effective.

Recent news has shown NCM conducting tests on nanotechnology to be included in the cloud seeding in Dubai to maximize rainfall from a single cloud.

The clouds are safely chosen after lot of research, so as to choose clouds which have optimum amount of water, and are not too dangerous to fly into.

The process includes use of sophisticated weather radars and other advanced technologies that constantly monitor the rains in order to predict future operations.

Why cloud seeding?

UAE, especially Dubai, being a place with an arid climate, and being close to the sea, has a few options for potable or fresh water. The major quantity of clean water is sourced by desalinization, which is a process of collecting sea water to process into clean water.

Desalinisation plants are a costly affair, and will find it difficult to meet the rise in demands in future. This led to explore other technologies and processes, leading eventually to cloud seeding, which in return is quite result oriented. 

The process is highly cost effective as compared to desalinisation, and is also hoped to revive the ground water levels in future. The cost of generating potable water from both the sources has been calculated down to per cubic metre, and the differences are highly considerable, with cloud seeding in UAE being more effective.

End result and benefits

To summarize, this process is one of the latest technological advancement in UAE, which has not only helped find affordable and sustainable water sources, but is known to be a viable and feasible option for meeting the growing conditions.

The upward draft that takes up the flares to clouds is also expected to increase the quantities of water upwards in the future. It will also help increase green cover, to introduce environment friendly weather in UAE. 

The added waterfall will also keep the weather pleasant more often, creating more tourism opportunity and helping in boosting UAE’s economy.

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Created on Jan 22nd 2020 03:15. Viewed 145 times.

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