UAE To Carry Out Hundreds Of Cloud-seeding Missions In 2024 To Tackle Water Scarcity
Meteorological experts are expected to carry out as many as 300 cloud-seeding missions across the United Arab Emirates in 2024 to encourage rainfall and tackle water scarcity.
The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science – National Center of Meteorology (UAEREP-NCM) – the task force behind the country’s cloud-seeding program – told Al Arabiya English that the UAE, located in one of the hottest and most arid regions on earth, has been leading the effort to seed clouds and increase precipitation for more than 23 years.
In the UAE, the confluence of climate change impacts and a burgeoning population has intensified the pressure on water resources. This escalating demand has propelled the UAE, traditionally dependent on desalination plants utilizing seawater, into a critical juncture.
Rising global temperatures and shifting weather patterns have exacerbated water scarcity issues, placing additional strain on the UAE’s already limited freshwater sources. As the population continues to grow, the urgency to address the mounting water demands has become more pronounced.
“The UAE carries out nearly 300 cloud-seeding missions each year, and the frequency can vary based on factors such as weather patterns, cloud availability, and climatic conditions,” an NCM official told Al Arabiya English, adding a “roughly” similar number of missions is likely to be carried out in 2024, depending on the availability of “amenable clouds.”
‘Optimizing rain enhancement strategies’
“The NCM analyzes these variables to make informed decisions on when and how often cloud-seeding operations should take place throughout the year. The goal is to optimize the effectiveness of rain enhancement strategies for the benefit of water security in the UAE and other arid and semi-arid regions,” the official said.
Cloud seeding has shown promising results in boosting annual rainfall, with statistical randomization experiments indicating significant enhancements, said the NCM official. In a turbid atmosphere, cloud seeding demonstrated the potential to increase precipitation by up to 15 percent.
Cloud seeding flares are seen inside the control room at the National Center of Meteorology in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, August 24, 2022. (Reuters)
“Moreover, when implemented in a clean atmosphere, the enhancement ratio could potentially reach up to 25 percent. These figures underscore the effectiveness of cloud seeding as a technique to positively impact annual rainfall.”
Climate change consequences
Cloud-seeding missions come at a time when the planet grapples with the challenge of restricting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as highlighted in the county’s recent staging of COP28 in Dubai. This threshold is identified by scientists as the point beyond which more severe consequences of climate change are anticipated. The UAE is, therefore, making concerted efforts to ensure the country’s water reserves are conserved.
According to Climates to Travel, a world climate guide, in the UAE, annual precipitation is almost everywhere below 100 millimeters (4 inches) and is concentrated in the winter months. The rains are rare, but they occur in the form of showers or downpours, which can sometimes be intense.
General view of flood water following a day of heavy rain in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, July 28, 2022. (Reuters)
“The UAE views water security as a fundamental component of national security, particularly given its arid climate characterized by minimal annual rainfall, high surface water evaporation rates, and a low groundwater recharge rate,” said the NCM official. “With a considerable gap between annual water usage and available resources, the country recognizes the critical importance of addressing water scarcity challenges through exploring innovative solutions that contribute to the sustainability of water resources – not only within the UAE, but also in other arid regions globally.”
Finding reliable, alternative water resources
“This aligns with the broader climate change mitigation efforts of the UAE, demonstrated by marking 2023 as the year of sustainability and hosting the COP28 conference. Through its ongoing and future cloud-seeding initiatives, the country aims to find reliable and alternative water resources, enhance resilience in the face of arid climatic conditions and promote global collaboration in addressing water scarcity,” he further said.
Scientists in the UAE use varying methods for their cloud-seeding missions. Most commonly, they shoot hygroscopic salt flares by releasing salt nanoparticles, a newer technology, into the clouds to stimulate and accelerate the condensation process to produce droplets big enough to fall as rain.
An explanatory hologram of the cloud seeding process is seen inside the control room at the National Center of Meteorology in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, August 24, 2022.
How it works
“Cloud-seeding technology operates by introducing seeding agents at the lower part of clouds that have favorable updrafts,” said the NCM official. “These agents are carried upward into the clouds, enhancing microphysical processes such as condensation and coalescence.”
He added: “This augmentation leads to the enlargement of droplet sizes, making them heavier. The process entails dispersing these seeding agents into the atmosphere using various methods, including ground-based generators and aircraft. In our cloud-seeding program at NCM, we adopt a conventional approach that involves igniting hygroscopic flares containing natural salts, primarily potassium chloride. These flares are released from specialized aircraft.”
‘Integrating technological advancements and innovations’
The UAE’s cloud seeding initiative, initiated in the 1990s, is ongoing and evolving with the NCM constantly exploring other, newer technologies. Last year, the NCM revealed plans to enhance and modernize the program by incorporating additional advanced cloud seeding aircraft into its fleet.
Cloud seeding flares are seen inside the control room at the National Center of Meteorology in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, August 24, 2022. (Reuters)
“Since its inception, UAEREP has taken a keen interest in integrating technological advancements and innovations into its cloud-seeding projects. Recent initiatives involve the use of novel nanomaterials that have exhibited greater efficiency than the conventional materials in enhancing precipitation.”
