The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a pioneer in rain enhancement science, generating a remarkable 15% additional rainfall annually through its extensive cloud seeding efforts, according to a recent study published in the Nature Research journal npj Climate and Atmospheric Science.
The report highlights that the cloud seeding operations overseen by the United Arab Emirates Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) yield an extra 168-838 million cubic meters of rainfall each year, contributing significantly to the country’s water resources.
The UAEREP, managed by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) and launched by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, plays a pivotal role in driving the UAE’s ambitious rain enhancement research initiative.
The usable water volume resulting from these cloud seeding operations falls within the range of 84-419 million cubic meters, a substantial portion of the UAE’s total annual rainfall of approximately 6.7 billion cubic meters.
Alya Al Mazroui, Director of the UAEREP, expressed pride in the technological and scientific advancements achieved, stating, “The remarkable technological and scientific advancements achieved by UAEREP continue to gain global recognition due to their significant potential for wider applications in countries facing similar water scarcity challenges.”
The UAE invests significantly in cloud seeding, annually conducting over 900 hours of cloud-seeding missions.
The operations, costing approximately Dh29,000 (US$8,000) per flight hour, involve strategic partnerships with international organizations and experts to continually enhance cloud-seeding capabilities.
The cloud seeding process in the UAE is a meticulously organized procedure led by meteorologists and specialists from the NCM.
It involves various stages, including weather analysis, planning, execution, and monitoring. Specially designed flares containing nucleating agents are released into clouds during cloud seeding, stimulating droplets within the clouds to increase in size until they become heavy enough to fall as precipitation.
With over a decade of experience piloting NCM’s cloud-seeding aircraft, Captain Mark Newman explained the process’s intricacies, stating, “We fly to a target cloud set by operations (team)”.
“We get there and fly around the base of the cumulus clouds. As soon as we pick up an updraft from that cloud, we then put ourselves into an orbit”.
“We fly in a circular pattern underneath that cloud. That is where we release the salt particles from the flare to enhance the cloud conductivity. Once we have done that, then we move away from the cloud.”
The success of the UAE’s cloud seeding efforts not only addresses its domestic water security concerns but also positions the country as a global leader in rain enhancement research.
The UAEREP’s advancements have garnered international interest, inspiring a paradigm shift towards considering rain enhancement as a viable and sustainable alternative to conventional freshwater sources.
As the UAE continues to make strides in water security through innovative technologies, the world watches closely, anticipating the potential replication of these advancements in other nations grappling with water scarcity challenges.
The global recognition of the UAE’s achievements underscores the critical role that science and technology play in addressing pressing environmental issues and securing the future of water resources.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members