The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has unveiled the initiation of its latest project to increase rainfall in the UAE. The project will utilise artificial intelligence (AI) to get more rainfall predictions.
The focus point of the project will be the formation of an AT research and operations testbed in the Emirates. An AI framework will be constructed to integrate satellite observations, ground-based weather radar data, rain gauges as well as numerical weather prediction forecasts to determine optimal cloud seeding timings and locations.
The multidisciplinary team desired to deliver a prototype of the AT-based predictive capabilities deployed at the NCM in Abu Dhabi.
This will enable the Centre to determine optimal cloud characteristics, timings, and seeding locations and boost quantitative precipitation estimations for rain enhancement in the UAE.
The project will be directed by the deputy director of the Centre for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E), Dr Luca Delle Monache, via the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP).
As per Dr Monache, a developed deep learning algorithm will be made to learn from several examples drawn from historical data and effectively remove and extrapolate inputs and the needed cloud features to anticipate new cloud formations that could be seeded.
The director of UAEREP, Alya Al Mazroui, stated that Dr Monache’s recent project would open several potentially beneficial new research directions that will complement the amazing work our other awardees have already done.
Other projects involve drones, aerosol seeding, ice nucleation, nanotechnology to accelerate water condensation as well as droplet formation, cloud electrical properties research and developed experimental-numerical approaches.
Dr Abdulla Al Mandous, director of NCM and President of the Regional Association II (Asia) of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), stated: “Through boosting collaborations with top international research organisations and critical stakeholders in rain enhancement research, the Centre is rising up its response to the growing water stress challenges globally.”