The UAE has been using cloud seeding technology to influence rainfall since the 1990s. Cloud seeding involves tracking clouds and triggering them to release rain. But as threats of climate change and population growth come together in a country that experiences less than 100 mm of rainfall per year, fears about water scarcity are intensifying – and scientists at the UAE’s National Center of Meteorology (NCM) are leading the way in addressing them.
Specialised planes sow rain seeds
While some cloud seeding programmes use ground-based equipment, in the UAE operations entail specialised planes “flaring” seed agents (usually natural salts such as potassium chloride) into the lower part of clouds “that have favorable updrafts”, an NCM official explained for Al Arabyia. The salts are carried upward into the clouds, promoting condensation and coalescence. Essentially this “leads to the enlargement of droplet sizes, making them heavier”, the official added. And then it rains.
At the NCM, researchers analyse “weather patterns, cloud availability, and climatic conditions” before taking “informed decisions on when and how often cloud seeding operations should take place throughout the year.” Up to 300 of these missions take place annually, with a similar number expected in 2024. They have been shown to boost yearly rainfall, by between 15% and 25% depending on atmospheric conditions, according to statistical randomization experiments.
The technology is constantly evolving, including research by a Saudi team including the first Arab woman in space in 2023, who conducted experiments in cloud seeding under microgravity conditions.
A matter of national security
Of course, not all countries experiencing water scarcity have the resources to conduct space research. Instead they face a plethora of challenges, including shortages of other materials, trained staff, and access to the equipment required to carry out cloud seeding initiatives, the official said. Public awareness campaigns are also necessary due to frequent distrust of cloud seeding and other geoengineering solutions.
“The UAE views water security as a fundamental component of national security,” the official told Al Arabiya. “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.”
As a result, the country is now awarding “rain enhancement” research investments. Successful projects will be funded to the tune up to $1.5 million (€1.4 million) over three years, with a maximum yearly pot of $550,000 (€505,000).
