The UAE’s cloud seeding missions have seen tremendous success over the past two decades, positioning it as a leader in the space and one of the first Gulf countries to adopt this technology to increase rainfall and combat water scarcity – especially during the summer months.
In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business, UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) Director Alya Al Mazrouei discussed the process behind these cloud seeding missions, the country’s rainfall targets, and more.
First things first, what is cloud seeding in the UAE?
Cloud seeding is a technique used in the UAE to increase rainfall. This is done by putting tiny particles into clouds, which help water droplets come together and form rain.
The UAE National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) is in charge of the UAEREP which controls the cloud seeding operations. They focus on specific clouds in the northeast mountains where it’s more likely to rain in the summer.
“Cloud seeding is one of the weather modification techniques used to encourage the formation and growth of precipitation particles in the clouds, thus increasing rainfall,” Al Mazrouei said, adding that in the UAE, environmentally-safe materials are dispersed into the clouds.
“We use hygroscopic materials – which are natural sources – such as potassium chlorides or sodium chlorides, which then enhance rainfall through cloud seeding.”
There are also nano-materials – which are also natural – used in the process, Al Mazrouei said, however, these particles are covered with titanium dioxide, which gives additional effectiveness to boost rainfall up to three times more than hygroscopic materials.
“These materials are developed by the UAEREP and is one of the breakthrough outcomes that have come since the development of these materials in 2016, until today. The technology works by introducing these seeding agents to the clouds, and are done by aircrafts and ground generators,” she said.
Cloud seeding can increase rainfall by about 10-15 percent in turbid conditions and up to 20-25 percent when the skies are clearer. The UAE is even doing research to improve the science of making it rain.
How does the process of cloud seeding occur?
“Each morning, it starts with meteorologists and other NCM specialists analysing the weather maps to identify suitable locations, times and whether there are any potential cloud formations that day, which are ideal for carrying out cloud seeding operations,” UAEREP’s Al Mazrouei said.
She explained that it is important for these specialists to also consider the specific conditions and cloud types before carrying out these missions.
“Not all cloud types respond equally to cloud seeding, but we can say cumuliform clouds such as the cumulus clouds, with a heaped shape and a strong updraft respond very well to these operations.”
As mentioned earlier by Al Mazrouei, these missions are carried out in the UAE by aircrafts – particularly, the Beechcraft KingAir C90 planes for seeding missions.
“We have a 24/7 roster for our pilots and our team at the airport. All equipment is ready with materials, with pilots on standby for specialists to come out with a take-off order. The operator, then observes satellite images and weather radar visuals after which they start the operation,” she said.
Al Mazrouei explained that as clouds start to form, their locations are identified, and pilots then travel to these ideal positions within the clouds based on weather image analysis.
The operation centre maintains continuous communication with the pilot as well, guiding the aircraft to the right areas.
Afterward, materials are dispersed from under the clouds, allowing the cloud’s droplets to enter during the updraft at the time. The droplets then start to grow, thus increasing precipitation.
Last year, the NCM signed an agreement with Calidus Aerospace in Abu Dhabi to obtain the Wx-80 turboprop planes, which can carry larger quantities of cloud-seeding materials.
The new aircraft are equipped with sophisticated safety equipment and other systems, however, the exact number of planes to be acquired and their deployment timeline have not been disclosed.
Why is cloud seeding important?
Cloud seeding is an important way for the UAE to manage their water resources. The first attempt in cloud seeding was carried out by the UAE in 1982, Al Mazrouei said, adding that it was only by early 2001 when the UAE cloud seeding programme kicked off in collaboration with different international organisations such as the National Centre Of Atmospheric Research in Colorado, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in USA.
“Mainly, the cloud seeding operations in the UAE aim to strategically enhance water security. In addition, the primary objective of the UAE cloud seeding programme aim to advance the science and technology and the limitation of rain enhancement,” she said, adding that the UAEREP is also looking to spur “additional investments” for international research partnerships and collaborations between multi-sectors to add value to the field.
“We are also looking to increase rainfall not only in the UAE but also in other arid, and semi-arid regions as well,” she added.
How much rainfall can UAE expect this year?
When asked how much rainfall is expected this year in the UAE, under the programme’s missions, Al Mazrouei explained that it depends on data received from monitoring cloud seeding operations throughout.
“The UAE conducts several, hundred cloud seeding operations every year, and it [rainfall targets] differs year to year. However, for example in 2020, we had around 280 million cubic metres additional amount of rain from our cloud seeding operations. This was in addition to the total amount of rainfall expected that year which was 5.6 billion cubic metres,” she explained.
April until June is expected to have above-normal temperatures in the Arabian Peninsula, including the UAE, according to NCM’s Seasonal Climate Outlook report, with temperatures in most areas of the peninsula are predicted to be 0.5°C to 1.5°C above normal.
Rainfall conditions are likely to be near-normal in most parts of the peninsula, but some regions may experience above-normal rainfall, particularly in the eastern and southern areas.
Specifically for April 2024 in the UAE, there is a high chance of above-normal temperatures and near-normal rainfall.
Throughout the season, above-normal temperatures are expected in the UAE, with temperature anomalies of around 0.5°C to 1.5°C above normal, whereas rainfall conditions in the UAE are likely to be near-normal, with some areas experiencing above-normal rainfall.
“Cloud seeding has very high potential and it shows promising results in boosting the annual rainfall. As per our studies, it has showed that in a turbid atmosphere, cloud seeding has a potential to increase precipitation by up to 15 percent, while in clean atmosphere it can enhance up to 25 percent, however, this also differs from cloud to cloud and from condition to condition.”
Al Mazrouei also revealed that cloud seeding efforts in the UAE are supported by data collection and monitoring. This process involves providing researchers with “access to high-quality experimental data,” both current and historical. By analysing this data, researchers can draw important conclusions about the effectiveness of cloud seeding and make assessments regarding annual average rainfall volume and precipitation patterns in the UAE.
“This comprehensive approach ensures that the evaluation of cloud seeding efforts is based on reliable datasets, enhancing the accuracy and the effectiveness of the assessment process,” she said.
Impact of cloud seeding rains on UAE
There are “positive impacts” on nature because of cloud seeding, Al Mazrouei said, adding that the process makes a “substantial contribution” to combatting climate crises.
“Particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where we need the additional rain, cloud seeding techniques aid in replenishing the groundwater reserves and providing much needed freshwater resources,” she said, adding this further promotes vegetation growth, and sustainable development.
Al Mazrouei explained that these techniques have the potential to reduce extreme temperatures and alleviate heat stress in arid areas affected by climate change.
The operations follow regulations and guidelines approved by environmental authorities in the UAE. Looking ahead, there are plans to expand the program due to the high population growth and increasing water needs in the region.
The UAE considers water security a crucial aspect of national security and aims to address water scarcity through innovative and sustainable solutions. They are exploring new techniques, including artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, and fostering global collaboration to enhance water resources and resilience in arid climates. It is viewed as a long-term strategy with significant potential for future focus and development.
“We are looking into enhancing the precipitation, but also into pushing the boundaries of this science,” she said.
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