Cloud seeding in the United Arab Emirates
[13] The project, which began in July 2010 and cost $11 million USD, succeeded in creating rain storms in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi deserts.[7] Since 2021, the devices have been equipped with a payload of electric-charge emission instruments and customized sensors that fly at low altitudes and deliver an electric charge to air molecules.It is predicted that climate change will lead to higher temperatures, increased humidity and a greater risk of flooding in parts of the Gulf region.[28] Experts are doubtful that cloud seeding played a role in the UAE's April 2024 floods, suggesting that the heavy rainfall was more likely caused by anthropogenic climate change.[29][30][31] In the aftermath of the floods, some news outlets quoted specialist meteorologist Ahmed Habib linking the heavy downpours to the UAE's cloud seeding program.[32] Due to the arid desert climate and high temperatures, cloud seeding has been used previously in the United Arab Emirates to combat water scarcity, which has been alleged to cause the severe thunderstorm system.[33] Dismissing the allegations, Omar Al Yazeedi, the deputy director-general of the UAE's National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), said the institution "did not conduct any seeding operations during this event".[40] In 2017, a study was conducted before and after cloud seeding missions, which recorded an increase of particulate matter, correlating to the months of active artificial rain.[5][1] The overall environmental impact of cloud seeding is difficult measure due to the inability to perform controlled experiments along with the difficulty in direct tracing.
Cloud seedingUnited Arab EmiratesPersian Gulfrainfallgroundwater rechargewater securityWorld Meteorological OrganizationUAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement ScienceNational Center for Atmospheric ResearchWitwatersrand UniversityUAE National Center of Meteorology & SeismologyAbu Dhabinanomaterialspotassium chloridesodium chlorideweather stationsDoppler weather radarBeechcraft King Airclimate changeGulf regionSharjahUniversity of ReadingparticulateEnvironmental issues in the United Arab EmiratesArabian DesertDubai Electricity and Water AuthoritySharjah Electricity and Water AuthorityParticulatesBibcodeGulf NewsRoyal Meteorological SocietyReuters