The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) carried out 95 cloud seeding operations across the UAE in the first quarter of 2020.
The NCM revealed that a total of 2,171 flares were produced by Emirates Weather Enhancement Factory.
Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, director of NCM and president of the Regional Association II (Asia) of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), said: “The UAE has been a forerunner in adopting rain enhancement technologies in the region.”
The UAE has an average rainfall of 100mm per year and the rain enhancement programme is designed to safeguard water security.
In January is was announced that the UAE is to invest AED500 million ($136m) to protect the country from flooding.
The funding was announced by Abdullah Al Nuaimi, minister of infrastructure development following widespread damage caused across the country by heavy storms.
In Ras Al Khaimah, in particular, around 120 families in the Al Fahleen area were badly affected by storms, while over 1,000 incidents of damaged roads, fallen walls and rocks, landslides and uprooted trees and poles were also reported.
The success of cloud seeding requires advanced statistical operations and procedures, whereby cloud’s seedability is evaluated through analysing data from at least 150 cumulus clouds.
Cumulus clouds are detached, individual, cauliflower-shaped clouds that are usually spotted in fair weather conditions. All cumulus clouds develop as a result of convection, and range at base heights of 1,000 metres, with a width of up to one kilometre.
Follow us on
