Parched UAE turns to science to squeeze more rainfall from clouds
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[August 30, 2022]
By Abir Ahmar
ABU DHABI (Reuters) - As a twin-turboprop
aircraft takes off under the burning desert sun with dozens of salt
canisters attached to its wings, United Arab Emirates meteorological
official Abullah al-Hammadi scans weather maps on computers screens for
cloud formations.
At 9,000 feet above sea level, the plane releases salt flares into the
most promising white clouds, hoping to trigger rainfall.
"Cloud seeding requires the existence of rainy clouds, and this is a
problem as it is not always the case," said Hamadi, head of rain
enhancement operations in the UAE's National Centre for Meteorology.
The UAE, located in one of the hottest and driest regions on earth, has
been leading the effort to seed clouds and increase precipitation, which
remains at less than 100 millimetres (3.9 inches) a year on average.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Aug/30/images/ads/current/hartsburggrain_sda_FAIR_2022.png)
The effects of climate change, combined with a growing population and
economy diversifying into tourism and other areas have pushed up demand
for water in the UAE, which has relied on expensive desalination plants
that make use of seawater.
Officials say they believe cloud seeding can help. Scientists in Abu
Dhabi combine shooting hygroscopic, or water-attracting, salt flares
with releasing salt nanoparticles, a newer technology, into the clouds
to stimulate and accelerate the condensation process and hopefully
produce droplets big enough to then fall as rain.
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![](../images/083022PIX/news_e1.jpg)
Hygroscopic flares are attached to an
aircraft during a cloud seeding flight operated by the National
Center of Meteorology, between Al Ain and Al Hayer, in United Arab
Emirates, August 24, 2022. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Aug/30/images/ads/current/eaton_lda_FAIR_2022.png)
"Cloud seeding increases rainfall rates by approximately 10% to 30%
per year... According to our calculations, cloud seeding operations
cost much less than the desalination process," Hammadi said.
Other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, have
announced similar plans as they face historic droughts.
Edward Graham, a meteorologist at the University of the Highlands
and Islands in Britain, said the salt used in cloud seeding in the
UAE does not harm the environment.
"In terms of carbon footprint, planes that fly up into the clouds
are just small planes, when compared to the billions of cars on the
planet and the huge planes doing international air travel everyday,
it's just a drop in the ocean," he added.
Pilots based at the UAE's al-Ain airport have to be ready to take
off at a moments notice, flying over the reddish-yellow desert
before directing their aircraft into the clouds located on the
meteorologists' screens.
"Cloud seeding is considered the second hardest challenge for
pilots," said one flyer, Ahmed al-Jaberi. "When there is a cloud, we
try to figure out the way we need to go in and out of it and avoid
thunderstorms or hail."
(Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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