UAE Launches Cloud Seeding Project to Enhance Rainfall
The UAE aims to enhance its ability to analyze cloud seedability in real-time during cloud seeding operations for rain augmentation.
This endeavor seeks to revolutionize the approach to cloud seeding and its assessment, with the primary objective of augmenting rainfall.
The 5th UAEREP funding cycle awardees, Professor Daniel Rosenfeld's team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) attended a project kick-off meeting where this concept was presented. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), a project partner research university, hosted the meeting in Abu Dhabi.
The project's goals, schedule, research technique, and National Centre of Meteorology (NCM)-UAEREP oversight and evaluation system were the main topics of discussion at the conference. The goal of the Prof. Rosenfeld-led initiative, "Identification of Clouds' Microphysical Seedability in an Actionable Manner," is to use satellite and meteorological data that is now accessible to diagnose cloud seedability almost instantly. In order to supplement earlier UAEREP work, the goal is to offer simultaneous evaluation and guidance during cloud seeding flights.
Specific requirements for technical support from NCM were outlined during the meeting, as the project incorporates machine learning procedures. Additionally, attendees were given a tour of the MBZUAI campus and laboratory facilities to familiarize them with the technology involved in the project.
Alya Al Mazroui, director of UAEREP, emphasized the program's commitment to responsible innovation and global prosperity through international partnerships. Prof. Rosenfeld expressed his team's commitment to advancing rain enhancement science and revolutionizing cloud seeding practices.
Dr. Salman Khan, Associate Professor of Computer Vision at MBZUAI, highlighted the collaboration's significance in integrating advanced machine learning with weather modification techniques.
Researchers from a variety of universities, including MBZUAI, Wuhan University, WeatherItIs, and the University of California, San Diego, make up the project team headed by Prof. Rosenfeld. According to UAEREP, this project will encourage research and community capacity development activities, which will lead to more sustained advancement and sharing of information in the field of rain enhancement science.
