Cloud seeding in UAE increases rains by over 25 percent

Cloud seeding operations have enhanced rains by over 25 per cent in UAE as the country is looking to triple the capacity. The operations conducted by the UAE enhanced rain by 10 to 25 per cent and the country is currently looking at AI (Artificial Intelligence) and new nano particles to triple the capacity.

The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) said they are conducting new research and studies to further enhance rain efficiency in the country.

Since 2015, the UAE has tried and tested different methodologies to enhance rain and address issues of water security.

For the record, the UAE records an average of 100 mm of precipitation every year, but in recent years, the intensity of rainfall has gradually increased in the country and it is credited to the cloud seeding operations conducted by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

The UAE carried out cloud seeding by identifying convective clouds and injecting small ice-like particles to modify the clouds to increase the chance of precipitation and harmless natural salts such as potassium chloride and sodium chloride are used for cloud seeding.

Cloud Seeding in the UAE

UAE started cloud seeding operations in 2010 to create artificial rain. The project, which began in July 2010 and cost US$11 million, has been successful in creating rain storms in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi deserts. Forecasters and scientists have estimated that cloud seeding operations can enhance rainfall by as much as 30 to 35 percent in a clear atmosphere, and by up to 10 to 15 percent in a turbid atmosphere.

In 2014, A total of 187 missions were sent to seed clouds in the UAE with each aircraft taking about three hours to target five to six clouds at a cost of $3,000 per operation. The year 2017 had 214 missions; 2018 184 missions; and 2019 had 247 missions.

Since 2021, the UAE has been using a new technology: drones equipped with a payload of electric-charge emission instruments and customised sensors fly at low altitudes and deliver an electric charge to air molecules. This method produced a significant rainstorm in July 2021. For instance, in Al Ain it rained 6.9 millimetres on 20 – 21 July.

At present, the UAE mostly seed with salt particles in the eastern mountains on the border to Oman to raise levels in aquifers and reservoirs.