UAE conducted 219 cloud seeding operations in H1 2020

The UAE’s National Center of Meteorology (NCM) confirmed that it had conducted 219 cloud seeding operations across the country in the first half of 2020.

The operations were carried out using a total of 4,841 flares produced by the NCM’s Emirates Weather Enhancement Factory as well as 419 ground generator flares.

The UAE records an average rainfall of 100mm per year, resulting in the country being placed among globally water-stressed countries. The country’s rain enhancement programme aims to increase the annual precipitation levels to foster water security by strengthening its groundwater resources.

Saudi Arabia, too, approved its own cloud seeding programme in February this year to increase its rainfall by 20 per cent. The kingdom, which currently receives less than 100mm of rainfall a year, depends primarily on groundwater resources, although it also carries out seawater desalination.

Read: Saudi approves cloud seeding programme to increase rainfall by 20%

For its cloud seeding operations, the NCM relies on a network of radars that incessantly monitor the country’s atmosphere and provides data on clouds. A team of pilots and technicians, based at NCM’s dedicated operations room, analyse the data, and carry out cloud seeding operations if they detect seedable clouds.

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, director of NCM and president of the Regional Association II (Asia) of WMO, said: “The UAE has been a forerunner in adopting rain enhancement technologies in the region. To achieve the objectives of UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), NCM has developed a wide network of local and international partners. Moreover, the Emirates Weather Enhancement Factory has allowed the Center to produce high-quality flares to use in its cloud seeding operations.”

NCM lends support for the UAEREP awardee projects by offering advanced technologies and facilities including a network of radars, weather stations and aircraft, and ensuring support from subject matter experts.

It also facilitates testing and practical application of research projects in the UAE.