Did artificial rain created by the UAE lead to flooding fiasco in Dubai?

Flights have been diverted. Schools are shut. Office-goers are working from home. Dubai has come to a standstill and the reason is surprising – heavy rain and storm.

The financial centre is known for its arid climate and scorching temperatures. But on Tuesday, it was engulfed by torrential rain. The desert city witnessed widespread flooding, as it received its heaviest rainfall in 75 years . As per airport weather observations, nearly four inches (100 mm) of rain descended within a mere 12-hour period, a quantity roughly equivalent to Dubai’s annual precipitation, as documented by United Nations data.

The inclement weather prompted flight diversions and cancellations, compelling the closure of schools and educational institutions. The deluge inundated the runway of Dubai International Airport , transforming roads into waterways.

Why is there so much rain and flooding in Dubai?

Dubai is grappling with severe flooding, as the amount of rain received in a single day equals what typically falls over the span of 1.5 years, climate scientist Colin McCarthy was quoted as saying by The Economic Times. He attributed the heavy rains in the region to multiple rounds of intense thunderstorms forming off the warm waters of the Persian Gulf

Climatologist Friederike Otto said the extreme rainfall in UAE and other regions was likely that global warming played a part. “It is highly likely that the deadly and destructive rain in Oman and Dubai was made heavier by human-caused climate change,” Otto told AFP.

The downpour in Dubai and other parts of the UAE also stemmed from cloud seeding, say experts. It is what is used to create artificial rain.

Why does the UAE need artificial rain?

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where annual rainfall averages less than 200 millimetres, the challenge of water scarcity is exacerbated by soaring temperatures, reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius during the summer months. With the nation heavily reliant on groundwater sources, the strain on water resources is palpable.

To address this pressing issue, the UAE has pioneered innovative solutions, including the generation of artificial rain through cloud seeding. But what exactly is cloud seeding, and how does it work?

What is cloud seeding?

Cloud seeding is a sophisticated technique that involves the introduction of “seeding agents” into clouds to stimulate the condensation process and induce rainfall. The process is meticulously orchestrated, with weather forecasters at UAE’s National Center of Meteorology (NCM) monitoring atmospheric conditions and identifying suitable clouds for seeding.

Also read: A year’s worth of rain in 24 hours: Why usually dry Dubai is underwater

The UAE’s foray into cloud seeding dates back to 1982, with significant advancements in the early 2000s through collaborative research with esteemed institutions such as the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and NASA.

Spearheaded by the Rain Enhancement Program (UAEREP) under the NCM, scientists have delved into analysing the physical and chemical attributes of the UAE’s atmosphere to identify effective seeding agents.

How is artificial rain created?

Once conducive clouds are pinpointed, specialised aircraft equipped with hygroscopic flares are dispatched. These flares, laden with salt material components, are deployed into the target clouds, serving as nuclei around which water droplets coalesce, eventually precipitating.

“The NCM has established a national network of 86 automatic weather stations (AWOS) for weather monitoring, six weather radars covering the entire UAE, and one upper air station. The Centre has also created climate databases and assisted in the development of high precision Numerical Weather Predictions and simulation software in the UAE,” the UAE’s Rain Enhancement Program’s (UAEREP) description of the process reads.

“At present, the NCM operates four Beechcraft King Air C90 aircraft from Al Ain Airport equipped with the latest technologies and devices employed for cloud seeding and atmospheric research.”

Is this safe for the environment?

While cloud seeding offers the promise of augmenting rainfall, it also presents environmental risks. Concerns have been raised regarding the diversion of rainwater, potential flooding, and the long-term impact of seeding agents on ecosystems.

Additionally, sceptics caution against disrupting natural weather patterns, attributing recent extreme weather events to nature’s response to interference.

The precipitation intended via cloud seeding for one area may be redirected, potentially exacerbating drought conditions elsewhere due to the deployment of cloud seeding.

Moreover, regions where cloud seeding is implemented often lack the necessary infrastructure to manage the influx of additional rainfall, leading to flooding and devastation.

Recent events in Oman, a neighbouring country of the UAE, underscore these concerns. As heavy rains triggered flooding, at least 18 fatalities were reported by AP, citing statements from Oman’s National Committee for Emergency Management.

Notably, Oman has employed cloud-seeding techniques to enhance precipitation within its borders.

Rain also fell in Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

In addition to immediate impacts, scientists caution about the long-term repercussions associated with cloud seeding, particularly when employing substances such as silver iodide.

This chemical can contribute to adverse effects on the ecosystem, including ocean acidification, depletion of the ozone layer, and elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Given its toxic nature, silver iodide poses risks to the health of plants, animals, and humans alike.

In response to these apprehensions, the NCM has adopted measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of its cloud-seeding operations.

Unlike some programmes utilising silver iodide, the UAE employs natural salts as seeding agents, minimising environmental risks. Moreover, ongoing research and experimentation with nanomaterials aim to enhance precipitation effectiveness while mitigating ecological impacts.

Do other nations use artificial rain?

During the 2008 Olympics, one of the most notable instances of artificial rain occurred in China. The objective was to prevent rainfall over Beijing’s iconic open-air Olympic stadium, famously known as the Bird’s Nest. This endeavour was orchestrated by Beijing’s division of the National Weather Modification Office, a part of the larger China Meteorological Administration.

Initially, Beijing’s Weather Modification Office utilised sophisticated technologies including satellites, aircraft, radar systems, and an IBM p575 supercomputer, renowned for its capability to perform 9.8 trillion floating point operations per second. This supercomputer intricately modelled a vast area spanning 44,000 square kilometres (17,000 square miles), facilitating hourly forecasts for each square kilometre.

Following meticulous monitoring, the weather engineers in Beijing executed their plan using two aircraft and a network comprising twenty artillery and rocket-launch sites around the city. These sites were equipped to disperse silver iodide and dry ice into approaching clouds, strategically intercepting them while they were still sufficiently distant. By doing so, they aimed to dissipate the clouds’ rain before it reached the stadium.

There are other instances of artificial rain in Russia and the United Kingdom.

As Dubai grapples with the aftermath of unprecedented rainfall, the intersection of innovation and environmental stewardship takes centre stage. While cloud seeding offers a glimpse into the realm of technological prowess, it also underscores the imperative of responsible and sustainable practices in combating water scarcity amidst a changing climate landscape.

With inputs from agencies