Several gulf countries are working on approaches to tackle the climatic changes. They are pouring money into new technologies that can help with this situation. The cloud seeding process is becoming quite a popular approach to making changes in the weather.
The Cloud seeding process refers to a type of weather modification that leads to an increase in rainfall and other precipitation types. This technology does exist in reality and isn’t just fiction. In the current scenario, climate changes lead to loads of difficulties around the globe, especially in the Middle East.
The Arab countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia are using Cloud seeding technology to fight back the climatic issues. They have both the scientific and financial resources to make the cloud seeding technology work. Furthermore, one of the globe’s leading research centers for cloud seeding, the Desert Research Institute, explains the cloud seeding process as an approach that “improves a cloud’s ability to produce rain or snow by artificially adding condensation nuclei to the atmosphere, providing a base for snowflakes or raindrops to form.”
What else is there?
The UAE emerged as a leader decades ago when it comes to cloud seeding. In 2000, Emirati officials already started studying cloud seedings with the assistance of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. By 2007, Gulf News reported that UAE had expanded its cloud seeding process research in cooperation with NASA, South Africa, the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and NCAR (National Centre of Atmospheric Research) in the USA.
In 2013, UAE spent 1000s of dollars for over 200s of its cloud seeding missions. All such efforts led to a 15-35% increase in rainfall depending on the area. Currently, the country focuses on drone experiments to induce rain through lasers.
This aggressive investment by the United Arab Emirates inspires the other Gulf Countries to take the initiative for cloud seeding. In addition, even Saudi Arabia has launched the cloud seeding project to meet the growing freshwater demands in the country.
Saudi Arabia needs more freshwater due to the growing population, long-term average rainfall being less than 100mm yearly, and the growing agricultural sector. In early April this year, Saudi Arabia initiated the first phase of its cloud seeding approach to make changes in rainfall.
In addition, Saudi Arabia is one of the less rainfed countries, and cloud seeding can show promising results.
If the UAE and other gulf countries succeed in addressing the climate situation through cloud seeding , it may have a promising future in the Middle East. Due to the escalating climate crisis, the need for the cloud seeding may increase over time. Hopefully, this initiative works out, and the Middle East will see a positive change in the rainfall rates through the cloud seeding process.
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