Torrential downpour leads to widespread flooding in the UAE
Dubai, UAE – In the wake of unprecedented rainfall that submerged streets, disrupted travel, and shuttered schools across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), scrutiny has intensified over the role of cloud seeding in exacerbating the deluge.
On Tuesday, heavy rains pummeled several parts of the UAE, inundating major highways and halting operations at Dubai International Airport. The city-state of Dubai bore the brunt of the storm, enduring over a year and a half’s worth of rain in mere hours.
Experts suggest that the relentless downpour, which caught many residents off guard, may have been partly fueled by cloud seeding efforts. Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique deployed to enhance precipitation, involves the introduction of substances like silver iodide or potassium iodide into clouds to stimulate rainfall.
While cloud seeding has been a longstanding practice in the UAE, aimed at addressing water scarcity and bolstering the economy, its effectiveness and potential drawbacks have come under scrutiny in light of recent events.
Ahmed Habib, a specialist meteorologist with the UAE’s National Center of Meteorology, revealed that seeding planes were dispatched from Al Ain airport to capitalize on convective cloud formations during the recent storm. This technique, though aimed at coaxing more rain from clouds, has raised concerns about unintended consequences, including flash floods.
The deployment of cloud seeding technology underscores the UAE’s commitment to water security and economic diversification. However, questions linger about its impact on natural weather patterns and the potential for exacerbating extreme weather events.
Beyond the UAE, cloud seeding has been deployed in neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman, as well as in regions like India, where it is explored as a means to mitigate pollution and stimulate rainfall.
As communities grapple with the aftermath of the deluge, discussions surrounding the efficacy and risks of cloud seeding continue to reverberate. With climate change amplifying the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, finding a balance between weather modification efforts and environmental sustainability remains a pressing challenge for policymakers and scientists alike.
